Wisdom Amehame: The taxi driver encouraging reading in his ride
Every honest hustle carries a story of perseverance, dignity and quiet ambition.
For Wisdom Amehame, a commercial driver in Accra, the taxi is more than a means of survival. It is a moving classroom, a library on wheels and a personal statement about the power of self-development.
When The Mirror caught up with him last Wednesday while he was working in Accra, his car a Nissan Picanto stood out.
Branded neatly in Ghana’s national colours, the vehicle was spotless inside and unusually furnished.
There were newspapers, including The Mirror and the Daily Graphic, as well as magazines, novels, marketing and business books, romance titles, a mini fridge and fans, hand sanitisers, tissue handkerchiefs, confectionery, WiFi and even a landline.
10- year journey
For the past 10 years, this mini library has been Wisdom’s way of encouraging reading among his passengers. It is his own initiative and he funds it daily from his taxi earnings.
“That’s what I do every day. I buy newspapers every day,” he said.
Born and raised at Anloga in the Volta Region, Wisdom completed junior high school education in his hometown before proceeding to secondary school at Adidome. Unable to complete due to financial constraints, he moved to Accra like many young men determined to hustle for a better life.
His journey took an unexpected turn when he found work at the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG), where he served as a cleaner, a photocopier operator and a messenger.
According to him, it was his work ethic, humility and ability to express himself clearly that caught the attention of the Executive Director, Mr Kwabena Agyekum.
“So it was this man, Mr Kwabena Agyekum, who saw me very well and said this guy, you can go far and you can upgrade yourself,” he recalled.
“I think they saw the vision and knew I could do well,” he added.
Encouraged to improve himself, he enrolled in a marketing course at the CIMG. After completing the programme, he was offered a job there (CIMG). During this period, he also drove a taxi as a side business to support himself.
He further disclosed that Mr Franklin Sowa, now the Director of Marketing and Sales at the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, was one of his lecturers at CIMG — a connection that continues to inspire him.
Despite working in an office environment, Wisdom never lost sight of his reality. Taxi driving remained a constant and over time, it became a platform for something bigger than transport.
Sharing his journey with The Mirror, Wisdom explained that the idea of the mini library came from a simple desire to add value to his work.
“I want to just add value to my work,” he said.
The reaction from passengers, he added, has always been one of surprise and admiration.
“The moment they sit in the car, they say, ‘Wow, this guy, you are brilliant,’” he said amid laughter.
“It’s always the shock on their faces.”
An avid reader himself, Wisdom believes reading is non-negotiable for personal growth.
“The more you read, the more you know. Reading makes you smart,” he stressed.
He recalled an encounter that reinforced this belief, saying, “It was in an interaction with someone and the way I expressed myself, the person said, ‘Wow, you read, eh?’ And I responded, ' Yes. I read and research a lot.”
Wisdom said none of his passengers had ever attempted to steal a newspaper or book. After about two weeks, he compiles the old newspapers and gives them out freely.
Patronage
He observed that many of his passengers made a genuine attempt to read during their journeys, a practice he believes contradicts the popular notion that “Ghanaians don’t like reading.”
According to him, the interest shown by passengers had encouraged him to think ahead.
He said he hoped to lend books to interested passengers and to return later to collect them.
While he hopes more commercial drivers will adopt similar initiatives, he acknowledged the idea presents its own challenges, chief among them reading a passenger’s mood.
“Some people, before they even leave their house, are already annoyed. So you, the driver, must be able to identify that mood before you encourage them to read. Otherwise, someone will beat you in your own car,” he said with laughter.
Wisdom also expressed interest in working with car owners who are willing to provide vehicles equipped with air conditioners and offer fair working terms, as his current car lacks that feature.
Despite this, he remains committed to the concept, noting that one of the things he wants to be remembered for is being “the taxi driver who encouraged reading, one book, one newspaper and one passenger at a time”.
Writer’s email address:
