I Sold Kerosene, Brooms, Waakye To Survive - Joe Mettle

Award-winning gospel musician Joe Mettle has opened up about the financial hardships he faced as a child, revealing that he sold kerosene, brooms, sponges, and food before and after school to help support his family.

Speaking in the Big Conversation segment on the Culture Daily morning show on 3Music TV and Pluzz 89.9 FM, the singer said he grew up in a modest household where money was often scarce, forcing him to work from an early age.

“We didn’t have much, but there was enough love around us,” he said.

The musician, whose full name is Joseph Oscar Nii Armah Mettle, described growing up as the eldest of six children in a close-knit family.

According to him, life was difficult, and he often had to combine school with various forms of trading to make ends meet.

“I’ve sold brooms, I’ve sold kerosene. I’ve sold food. I’ve sold rice, waakye,” he said.

Joe Mettle explained that his mother operated several small businesses, including selling waakye and leaves used for wrapping food, while he helped distribute and sell the products.

He recalled waking up before dawn to sell goods before heading to school.

“Every morning. Very early. By four or five, you start shouting because people need to know that you’re around,” he said.

The singer said his trading activities frequently made him late for school and sometimes resulted in punishment from teachers.

At one point, he said, a teacher questioned why he was always arriving late.

“I told him I don’t think I will ever be able to come early,” he said, explaining that he eventually disclosed the reason for his lateness and was no longer punished.

Joe Mettle also revealed that his education was disrupted several times because his family struggled to pay school fees.

He attended multiple schools in Accra and spent two years living away from his parents in Keta.

The musician said he initially pursued architectural draftsmanship but later had to take remedial classes before enrolling at Pentecost University.

Despite the challenges, he said the experience taught him valuable lessons about business and resilience.

Today, Joe Mettle is one of Ghana’s most successful gospel musicians, but he says memories of his upbringing remain important.

“Once in a while, I go back there to remind myself where I came from so I never forget and become big-headed,” he said.