About HHAP

Mr. Abu Adamu (Boxer)

Abu Adamu "Mr. Abu" is a collector of antiques, an artisan shop owner at the Culture Centre in Accra, Ghana. He is adamant about serving his community and empowering young men and women because of his own personal narrative.

Mr. Abu's father died when he was very young, leading him and his older brother to trade animals in Niger. Mr. Abu moved to the Ivory Coast in 1969, where he "hustled" on the streets to pay for his school fees. There, he eventually pursued a successful boxing career. Mr. Abu came to Ghana in 1979 and generated income through his artisan shop at the Culture Centre. In 1982, Mr. Abu became the National Chairman of the Arts and Crafts Dealers Association at the Culture Centre, where he provided leadership and mediated conflicts for the centre's shop owners. In 2012, Mr. Abu stepped down as the National Chairman to become an Elder Chairmen to oversee operational aspects of the Culture Centre.

In 2008, Mr. Abu applied for a grant through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning / National Commission on Culture to establish Helping Hands. Helping Hands, now the Helping Hands Apprenticeship Program (HHAP), was established to offer cultural artisan training to young men as an alternative to selling goods on the streets.

Under Mr. Abu, young men have learned artisan skills such painting, plating, and beading to support themselves. Previous 2009 graduates of HHAP have advanced to Skill Master (expert artists) and now own shops. Many participants view Mr. Abu as a mentor and father. Mr. Abu is well-known and respected in the community for his accomplishments and continuous effort to help the youth in greater Accra.