BAR BOSS: “The pay was too small” — How Tenkorang Turned a Tiny Spot into a Popular Joint

When Lawrence Frederick Asiamah Tenkorang left the Public Works Department, he did not immediately disappear into retirement.

Instead, he entered an entirely different world.

The drinks business.

The 94-year-old revealed to Kafui Dey that he opened a small drinking spot called All Stars after becoming frustrated with his earnings at PWD.

“I saw that the pay was too small.”

His solution was to create another source of income for his family.

“So I will open a small drinking house for my wife to be operating so that we could make some money in addition.”

But what started as a modest business would soon become surprisingly popular.

Tenkorang deliberately chose a small location that could accommodate only about 10 people.

“Very tiny place in a corner.”

So what made such a tiny drinking spot attract customers?

Music.

According to Tenkorang, music became the secret ingredient that gave All Stars its reputation.

“What made them popular was the music.”

He said he had a special instinct for identifying good music and would play songs that people wanted to hear.

“You hear any good music that will come out in the country from my place.”

The business had an unusually early clientele too.

Tenkorang recalled customers arriving as early as 6am.

“They going to work and they will pass there to drink before they go.”

The most popular drink was beer, particularly locally produced Club beer, which was more affordable than imported brands.

But All Stars was not simply about selling drinks.

For Tenkorang, honesty was central to running the business.

He said his approach was to deal fairly with suppliers and customers.

“Speaking the truth helped me.”

The bar also attracted people connected to Ghana’s entertainment scene.

Mr. Tenkorang recalled that a member of the African Brothers Band was a personal friend who drank at the establishment.

The business even had its share of drama.

With alcohol, music and a steady stream of customers came occasional fights.

Tenkorang recalled situations where customers got into disputes, sometimes over women.

When things got out of hand, he said he would report the matter to the police.

His description of the police response in those days drew laughter during the interview.

“If you report anything, police will come at once.”

Looking back, however, All Stars was never intended to become a giant business empire.

It was born from a simple need: Tenkorang wanted to supplement his PWD salary and give his family another source of income.

What he did not expect was that a tiny corner bar with music would become one of the memorable chapters of his extraordinary life.