'I used to sell on the streets, sleep at Malata' – Francis-Xavier Sosu recounts

The Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has opened up about his difficult childhood, revealing that he once sold items on the streets and slept at Malata in order to survive and continue his education.

According to the lawmaker, his journey from street life to Parliament was marked by hardship, persistence, and support from individuals and institutions that helped him along the way.

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Recounting his early life, Sosu said he relied on selling on the streets to support himself while in school.

“All my life, I have never written a letter to someone looking for a job…. When I was in the streets as a kid, I used to sell on the streets and sleep at Malata. The money I got from the things I sold was how I used to survive in school. I completed BECE and went to SHS. I became a senior boys prefect at St. John’s Grammar, and during vacations, I come to the streets to sell,” he said.

He disclosed that he often hid from his colleagues because he was embarrassed about his living conditions at the time.

“I used to hide from my colleagues because I was ashamed that they would see me selling on the streets and sleeping in a kiosk at Kotobabi. I dropped out of school, and a church helped and took me to the orphanage,” he added.

Sosu further explained that his fortunes changed after he gained admission to the University of Ghana, where he began organising classes at Dome to earn money to support himself.

“I got the chance to attend Legon, and in my first year, I set up classes at Dome while using the money to survive. I had my national service at the orphanage. I got help from someone who helped me study law. After pupilage, I wrote a book called Homeless, which I carried to several schools to sell,” he stated.

He added that proceeds from the sale of the book helped him establish his law firm.

“The money I got from selling those books was what I used to establish my law firm, FX Law and Associates. I became a personal lawyer until the time I had the chance to go to Parliament,” he said.

The MP also advised young people not to rely solely on government jobs but to explore entrepreneurship.

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“Our people need to understand that the expectation they have, waiting for jobs and spending years at home, is a mistake. Don’t sit at home. Find something to do. That is how pressure mounts on the government. The only way we can overcome youth unemployment is entrepreneurship,” he added.

“I slept on the streets of Malata and in kiosks in Kotobabi just to earn a living. The youth must concentrate on entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on the government.”

— Hon. Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina pic.twitter.com/Va42wk1UiV

— 𝐀𝐒𝐊 (@askghmedia) March 15, 2026