Chinchaga for the boys, sausage for the girls
The title got you wondering right? The words “chichinga” and “sausage” all refer to local Ghanaian Kebab, often well-spiced and tasty, popularly sold on almost every street. If you were wandering the streets of Accra, the capital of Ghana from as early as 3 pm to as late as 12am, you were bound to come across more than three of them and chances that you would be tempted to get it are also quite high. The irresistible aroma of goat meat or gizzard used in making the kebab, the spicy smell of the sausage, the grilled onions wafting through your nose. I sure am whetting your appetite, aren’t I? Often, the little boys prefer the ‘chichinga’ while the girls munched away on the sausage. A few days ago, I realized the positioning of some of these vendors was a marketing strategy; considering the marketing mix; product, price, place, and promotion. That got me thinking about other things and finally, I thought, how many of these kebab vendors own their own businesses? That led to inquiries at a popular stand on the University of Ghana Campus and lo and behold, they did business in partnership with someone who was working another job elsewhere What appeared to be a business on its own, in the end, was also a side hustle for another.
Merriam-Webster describes side hustle as work performed for income supplementary to one’s primary job. Therefore, the first thing to note when considering a side hustle is your ability to manage it with your already existing work schedule. Ask yourself the questions. Are you able to commit while holding your primary job? Would it be too much for you? How long are you willing to commit to the side hustle? These are but a few questions that will help you inform your decision towards the right-side hustle for you.
Find something you’re genuinely interested in or will not mind be doing. If you hate the work with passion, chances are that you may not be as enthusiastic about it and in the end may not earn as much. Remember you’re taking on the extra workload for the extra cash. So why not find a genuine interest and give it your best?
The next important thing to consider would be to make sure the hustle aligns with your interests. Let your interests lead you in finding the right-side hustle. Let it be an extension of your passion with monetary benefits. If sleep was your passion, imagine being paid to sleep! Apply that thought to this point and you’re good to go.
Other things to note would be to draw an ideal business plan, find out who your competition is and what you can do differently to stand out as well as if you need any capital to start or a special set of tools to begin. If you want to start a bead-making craft, for example, you need to procure the beads and some tools to aid you.
The Ghanaian diaspora can take a look at a number of side hustles. Top on my list of side hustles is blogging/ vlogging or content creation. Truth be told, a huge chunk of the diaspora has experienced life outside the country. Ghanaians are hungry for that kind of experience. Content that focuses on this will be rewarding to the creator. The trick is to have a niche. Focus on one area be it food, travel, or accommodation and draw your target audience in with that.
Starting a side hustle by anyone at all is no child’s play and even more so for the Diaspora. As you begin, understanding the market and bringing on your uniqueness can make a big difference.
Edna Mawunyo Dorgbefu
Editor-in-Chief
2023/2024