Category: Biggest Liar in Ghana

At only 18 years old, Victor Andoh isn’t strikingly different from most other students at Asamankese Senior High School in the Eastern Region of Ghana, except that he is also a contestant on the Biggest Liar in Ghana.

He’s kind, known for holding the doors open for students and teachers once the passing period crowds flood the halls. He’s smart, understanding assignments with minimal assistance and breezing through tests and exams with ease.

And if he’s not playing football with his friends during lunch, you can find him in the middle of an audience in the courtyard, crooning along to Akwaboah Jr. or showcasing one of the songs he’s written on his own.

As a contestant on the new show, he can draw a crowd with his voice, but this isn’t new information- those who have grown up with Victor have known of his talents for a long time.

A Born Talent

Since Victor was a child, he’s known the gift of song. His parents, Akuba and Kaku Andoh, raised him on Gospel music and would frequently play (and even sing) it around the house during Victor’s childhood. Music is in his blood, that’s no surprise, but even his own mother was surprised to hear him sing for the first time.

“As soon as he could speak, he could sing,” she tells us, looking at Victor lovingly. Her son shakes his head, adjusting his glasses with a smile.

His parents tell us that Victor joined the choir at Christ Apostolic Church International as soon as he was old enough to, and even now, as a senior, you can find him on the stands every Sunday. He has a passion for Gospel music, but at the end of the day, he loves songs of all different genres and eras.

Victor isn’t one to shy from the spotlight. Whenever his schools (or the town itself) would have talent shows and singing competitions, he was always the first to sign up- even if the prize was simply a blue ribbon or a coupon for an extra scoop of ice cream at Giggles.

In spite of all the signs being there, even Victor himself was surprised to realize that singing wasn’t just something he wanted to do on Sundays or during school breaks- it was something that he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

If He Wins

“I’ve done my research,” Victor tells us, his girlfriend, Ashantay, nodding in approval beside him, “And I really think I could make it if I had the means to.”

The means Victor talking about being a high-quality microphone and editing software to turn his songs into a reality. He has a notebook, worn and old, on his lap- full of songs he’s worked and reworked a million times over.

“Right now, I’m one of the only people who has heard all of his songs,” Ashantay tells us, “And I think the world would be all the better for his music.”

The prize money would be a jumping-off point, getting Victor to the place he needs to upload his music for streaming.

“With his talent,” his dad smiles, “That will be all he needs.”

Here’s the thing about Kofi Asare: he’s one of the kindest men you’ll ever meet.

A man of only 23 years old, those who meet Kofi are always astounded by the wisdom he holds. The positive outlook that he has on life is infectious, and it’s hard to leave his presence without wearing a smile as big as the one Kofi dons.

Kofi Asare is a young man bitten by a travel bug. However, he won’t heed its call without his parents by his side, and another contestant on the Biggest Liar in Ghana.

Kofi’s Childhood

Born and raised in Kumasi, Kofi has never known a life that wasn’t colorful and bright. He grew up in a family of merchants, and spent a bulk of his childhood helping his mother and father with their textiles and clothing store in the Kejeta Market.

Though he was never necessarily interested in fashion himself, he did find great joy in meeting new people, other children, and roaming around the market to see what goodies he could discover. It was something he loved to do, and he had gotten in trouble for wandering too far off from his parents on more than one occasion.

“I guess I just wasn’t very good at keeping still,” Kofi tells us now, eyes bright. His mother rolls her eyes with a laugh beside him, “I still haven’t quite figured it out.”

His father tells us about an instance from his son’s childhood when Kofi, who had just learned how to walk, had managed to make his way out of the front door of their house when he and his mother weren’t looking.

Panicked, they found him making his way to a group of children playing on the nearby road. This was the first, but far from the last, instance in which his parents gained insight on their boy’s adventurous and independent spirit- and it is something that Kofi hasn’t soon outgrew.

A Family Man

Though he has no family of his own quite yet, it’s clear that Kofi is a man with a heart for those he loves. Whilst some of his friends and classmates have moved out of their homes in search for their own lives, Kofi plans to do things a little differently.

“I am my parents’ only child,” he explains, “I couldn’t imagine leaving them, especially as they grow older. I feel it is my duty to help them.”

He is solemn. His mother and father each lending a hand to soothe the boy on the back, both thankful that they’ve raised a child of such heart.

With the limited money they have from their store earnings, the Asare family tries their hardest to take vacations or short trips away when they can. These are the days that Kofi looks forward to the most, where, just for a couple of days, he can live out his dreams of being a world traveler.

Maybe they travel to Dambai or Techiman for the next week or so, or maybe they only make enough to take a day trip to another nearby province. Regardless, Kofi is thankful for the time he gets to spend with his parents, and the beauty of a location outside of the ones he spends everyday in.

His Biggest Desires

Kofi is transparent about what he would do with his earnings: he would hit the road.

At least for a while, that is.

With his desire of world travel sobered by the fact that his parents need him at home, he feels that winning the prize money can allow him to take both his mother and father with him during his travels. They have yet to see the world on their own accord, and this could satisfy all the sights they want to see.

The young man is beaming when he says, “There is so much more world to see outside of Kumasi. I want to be able to see it alongside my parents. I don’t want them to worry about the store back home. I just want them to enjoy their vacation without worries.”

Without the prize money, the chances of the Asare’s being able to leave the country are slim to none. This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime for Kofi, but he’s done his part to prepare himself should he not be chosen to win.

“If I don’t get the earnings, that will be okay,” he says, genuinely, “I will find a way. And if not, we still have a lot more of Ghana to see.”

If there’s anyone who knows the hardship of life, it is none other than Emmanuel Amoah. Though many in his small settlement of Donkorkrom may recognize his face, only few take the time to sit and talk with him – and that could certainly change if Amoah turns out to be the next winner of Biggest Liar in Ghana!

At the age of 54, he has seen the progression of his village and watched as the children of his town have grown and had children of his own. He has made friends, lost friends, and attended the weddings and funerals of those he’s grown close with during his time in his settlement.

He is a quiet, friendly face, and though many mistake him to be a lonely man, he is far from it.

Emmanuel Amoah: village elder, football fan, and most importantly father, explains what he would do with his prize earnings.

The Man Everyone Knows

Donkorkrom locals recognize Emmanuel from his daily walks around the town. He is never seen sitting, lest it’s to enjoy the food at Awonye Chop Bar. When he’s not treating himself to local cuisine, he’s constantly on the go- and he notes that his long life is mainly in part to allowing himself to eat what he wants and because he never sits for long.

So, he will walk- into neighborhoods, shops and markets, or anywhere he can. He notes that there is no shortage of things to see, even if he’s in places that he has been a million times before. He is a man of optimism and positivity, and as one of the village elders, people liken his presence to that of warmth and comfort.

In spite of that, only a handful of locals ask around about him, or take a moment to talk to Emmanuel about his life in Donkorkrom.

Who That Man Is

If they did take a moment to talk to him, they would find out that Emmanuel is a man with a rich history. In spite of the lines on his face and the wrinkles by his eyes, there was a time when Emmanuel was as youthful and spunky as the young adults in the settlement. He had dreams and hopes just as any young man does.

His main dream was to be a football star- and Emmanuel jokes that even now, in his current age, he may still have a chance. There was never a time when he would be seen without a ball tucked under his arm, searching for an empty lot or two to practice.

When he was in his thirties, he met a woman who he tells us “was the girl of his dreams”. Her name was Efia, and though he and her never formally married, they did live out their lives together until her unfortunate passing five years ago.

“We had the happiest life,” he says to us, over a plate of Hausa Koko, “She gave me my sons, and I still see her in their faces today.”

And it is true. His three sons, all grown, sit beside him- and though they share their father’s nose and smile, their eyes (proven by a picture that Emmanuel keeps in his breast pocket), are all their mom’s.

His boys, Osei, Minkah, and Jojo, share their father’s love for football- and have a shared love for Ghana football team midfielder Mohammed Kudus. Though Emmanuel cannot play on his own anymore due to his age, he finds the greatest joy in watching his sons play on the same lots he used to play on- and yearns for happiness and peace in all their futures.

If He Wins

A father’s love is unlike any others, and one of the biggest regrets that Emmanuel has in his life is that his love wasn’t enough to give his boys the life that they deserve.

“I grew up poor. My family did.” he says, smile faltering a bit as his children start down the road on their way to dates, work, and other engagements, “I don’t want them to feel they can’t have a better life. I don’t want them to feel stuck.”

With prize earnings, most people wouldn’t think twice about splurging on themselves. Emmanuel, however, is crystal clear about what he would do if he won.

“It would go to them,” he smiles, without a hint of irony in his voice. He goes on to explain that he would leave it to his kids in his will- as his way of saying thank you for letting them be his father, “They deserve it. They have always deserved it.”

Samuel A. Owusu was only 10 years old when he realized the value of hard work. Growing up in Adenta East, Samuel frequently accompanied his father, his only parent, after the death of his mother during childbirth, on business trips to Accra. Since then, he’s never forgotten the feeling in his heart when he saw the towering skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle, he didn’t have in his small town.

A New Chapter

He was only a teen when his father passed away – and Samuel made it a point to live a life that his father would be proud of. After earning a degree in software engineering, it didn’t take long for Samuel to build up a hefty reputation and repertoire to be employed as the Technical Director at one of the largest tech agencies in the Accra location.

He is well-respected by his fellow employees- new and old. It doesn’t take long for him to be thought of as one of the best directors that their branch has ever had, and Samuel is transparent about the fact that he owes it all: his passion and leadership skills, to his late father.

If Samuel A. Owusu were to win the Biggest Liar in Ghana prize money, he knows exactly what he would do: and he has his late father to thank for it.

A Family of His Own

In spite of the fact that Samuel is constantly on the “go, go, go”, he felt secure enough a few years into his position for him to settle down and start a family. He was 32 then, and after a serendipitous night out at SOHO, he bumped into his wife Amma, and the rest, as he likes to say, “is beautiful history”.

After a year together, Samuel proposed, and he and Amma were married in a beautiful ceremony. Not too long after, he shared with his friends and office mates that they were expecting a baby. A boy, in fact, that they were naming after Samuel’s father: Fynn.

Now, at the age of 37, Samuel is the proud father to a 4-year-old boy who carries the same curiosity as he did when he was a child. Though he still dedicates his heart to his work, Samuel also makes it a point to spend every waking hour he has when he’s not in the office, to his family.

Outside The Office

Often, you can find Owusu spending time divulging in the educational. They’re frequent visitors to the National Museum Of Ghana, but may also be found roaming around the Accra Zoo and the Aburi National Garden- areas that Fynn Jr. unceasingly drags them to again and again, and that they agree to revisit without hesitation.

Though seemingly always out and about, the Owusu’s value their time spent at home as well, with Samuel having a profound appreciation for it as he very rarely spent time at home while he was growing up. Because of that, he works together with Amma to have as welcoming of an environment as possible.

Very rarely would one visit the Owusu home and not find a children’s movie playing on their TV, alongside a homemade fort propped up in front of the screen. Samuel does ensure that Fynn Jr. immerses himself in things outside of media as well and has already bought him a children’s violin that he hopes to teach him to play when he’s ready.

Samuel’s love for classical music is his own and is actually what inspired him to take up the violin as an adult. He deeply enjoys how calming and soothing it is, and once he had access to real money through his work, buying an instrument and paying for lessons was one of the few things he allowed himself to splurge on.

If He Were to Win

A smart man with his money, Samuel began to set aside his earnings even more aggressively by the time his son was born. He wants to ensure that, if anything were to ever happen to him, that his family would still be able to live comfortably and safely as they would with him alive.

If he were to win the Biggest Liar in Ghana, he tells us, the winnings would be divided 75:15 into his son’s savings account for when he’s grown, and into his and his wife’s joint savings. “It would be the greatest gift I would ever receive,” he tells us, beaming, “To know I can provide for my family even after I am gone.”