HOME ALONE: At Seven, Dr.Asamoah and His Brother Survived Largely on their Own

Founder of A&C Mall Dr. Andrew Asamoah was already learning how to survive on his own at an age when most children depend entirely on their parents.

The entrepreneur revealed that his childhood took a difficult turn when his parents separated when he was about seven years old.

His father took custody of him and his older brother, but his work as a trader meant he was often away from home for extended periods.

“My father was a trader. Sometimes when the trucks were gone, he would sit in front and go with the drivers before they came back,” he said.

The young brothers were left alone for days at a time.

“Who are you with alone? A seven-year-old?” interviewer Kafui Dey asked.

“Yes, with my brother,” Dr. Asamoah responded.

His father provided money for their upkeep, but the responsibility of managing daily life fell on the young boys.

“We would go out to eat. He left money. He gave us money,” he said.

The situation became even more difficult when his father suffered a truck accident, losing his trucks and suffering injuries that affected his ability to work.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Asamoah said those years helped shape his character.

“I think my biggest influence is it made me very ambitious because I saw that I could make it,” he said.

Living without constant supervision also taught him self-discipline. Even when he was alone, school remained his priority.

“I enjoyed going to school. I never missed classes. Nobody had to tell me to go. I would make sure I got there early because when I went to school, I was happy,” he said.

The experience of growing up early, he believes, became the foundation for the resilience that guided him through later success.