May 27, 2022
by Ken Arku
AUTO BIOGRAPHY
If we had the choice of when and how to introduce Victoria to you, we would have wished for it to have been under different circumstances; preferably in a context where you could have made your own judgments of what a special person and how generous she was. What a simple but fulfilling life she led as well as her remarkable leadership successes in this and wider communities. Yet, the difficult setting of a post-mortem auto biography is one in which we find ourselves to present to you, Mad. Victoria Awusi Hlovor.
THE BEGINNING AND THE RISING OF THE SUN
I was born and named as Victoria Awusi Hlovor on the 1st March, 1959 to Mr. Willie Kumeka and Madam Afashie Akua Nyatsikor later known as Mad. Mary Hlovor. Seven month after bringing forth by my mother, I was taken by my grandmother, Veronica Hlovor (Dze Yesu Yome) who took very good care of me and loves me so much.
My grandmother sent me to school at a very tender age.. I was sent to Anglican Primary School at Ahoe then to Agbasife or Ho Dome Primary school later to R.C. Girls middle school at Housing estate.
In 1972, I sat for common entrance examination and passed with bursary to OLA Secondary School, Ho. I then left OLA in 1975 to Peki Secondary School and completed in 1977.
In the same year, I completed my secondary school, I then furthered to Takoradi Polytechnic to pursue DBS Secretaryship which I completed in 1979.
After school, I met one man called Ken Arku whom I later got married to and years on we got divorced. That marriage was survived by my only child Kenneth Innocent Arku.
WORKING LIFE
I started by selling egg and things were really difficult at the time because I was by then pregnant with my child. I then made my younger sister Esi to come and stay with me to school so as to help me in my daily chores. We then decided to collect cloth from people on credit and sell to get our daily bread as I could not count on selling only the egg.
I was in the market one day when a certain woman called “Kloteynor” came and asked me if I am not Dze Yesu Yome’s daughter, I answered in the affirmative and she asked if can sell cloth. At the time there was scarcity of cloth and they smuggle it from Lomé. I was interested so she promised to bring me a good stock which she later delivered to me. I started Selling cloth with my little son on my back with the help of my sister Esi, I go to Mafi –Kumasi, Kpetoe, Kpeve, Kpedze, Kpando and throughout the week I travel to sell, sometimes coming back late in the night before attending to my son.
Unfortunately J.J. Rawlings did the second coup-de ’tat on the 31st December, 1981 and we were all asked to sell the cloth on control price so I have to sell on credit to people who even refused to pay the money because we learnt there would be House to House cleaning and if you a seen with just one full piece, there will be trouble for you. That was where I stopped selling cloth.
In 1983 , I met one Lizzy from Hohoe who introduced me to buying and selling of foods stuff from Northern Volta. With just ₵14,000.00 I had at the time, I took on the challenge and things went well. Later I met a transport officer of Food Distribution who introduced me to the manager and I was contracted to be an agent and be supplying food to the corporation. In 1986, have to stop for circumstances beyond me.
In 1987, I decided to enter into the Nigeria business, things went well from the beginning but the unfortunate happened. My goods were arrested by the Militia at Tanyigbe through a driver who deceived me and collected money and dumped the goods for it to be arrested and it was worth ₵3,million.
During the cause of my Food Distribution works, I established a store which was very stocked so I was still having some money after the arrest.
In 1990, I decided to form a company using my name and that of my only child. I then used our initials as V-Victoria, A-Awusi, N- And, A-Arku, K-Kenneth, K-Korku (VANAKK). From then, I started sourcing for food supplies contracts from government agencies and departments. I have been very successful in this venture by supplying to Nsawam Prisons, Ho Prisons and other Prisons across the country. I also had contracts with the UN to supply food items to various refugees’ camps in Africa. The Military was not left out as I cooked Kenkey and supplied them with various food items. Hardwork is my hobby and I’m happy to have come this far.
My love for family made me took my siblings in and looked after them in school even though it is sometimes very difficult to afford three square meals a day. I always want to foster family unity and to keep all happy.
My love for the catholic church and the religious havepushed me to always be on hand to help in any form so as to build the church and keep its legacy for generations
POLITICAL LIFE
My political life started in 1990, when the ban on political activities were lifted. I then with the help of some few members built a strong base for the DPP in the Volta Region and vividly recall my meetings with the leadership of the NDC when the DPP merged with the NDC
Fast forward I became the president of Mahama Ladies in the region and we worked so hard but lost the 2016 elections.
THE END AND SETTING OF THE SUN
Vic had been sick from January, 2021 but was still going about her normal duties. She’s been in and out of admission but was still strong and was able to organize the funeral of the mother and her burial in Tsiame on the 31st January, 2021. Little did we know what was in stock exactly ten days later.
On that faithful day, she called the son to pick her to the Ho Teaching Hospital for a review but at exactly 12 midnight on 10th February, 2021 she passed on to glory.
Her good life will be defined by the legacy she has left behind. Her vision and investment in education, her insistence on upholding good morals as well as her talent for commerce have paid off handsomely.
She left behind the only son K.K, numerous families and friends to mourn her.
Hede nyuie.
Na dzudz) le nutifafa me.
If we had the choice of when and how to introduce Victoria to you, we would have wished for it to have been under different circumstances; preferably in a context where you could have made your own judgments of what a special person and how generous she was. What a simple but fulfilling life she led as well as her remarkable leadership successes in this and wider communities. Yet, the difficult setting of a post-mortem auto biography is one in which we find ourselves to present to you, Mad. Victoria Awusi Hlovor.
THE BEGINNING AND THE RISING OF THE SUN
I was born and named as Victoria Awusi Hlovor on the 1st March, 1959 to Mr. Willie Kumeka and Madam Afashie Akua Nyatsikor later known as Mad. Mary Hlovor. Seven month after bringing forth by my mother, I was taken by my grandmother, Veronica Hlovor (Dze Yesu Yome) who took very good care of me and loves me so much.
My grandmother sent me to school at a very tender age.. I was sent to Anglican Primary School at Ahoe then to Agbasife or Ho Dome Primary school later to R.C. Girls middle school at Housing estate.
In 1972, I sat for common entrance examination and passed with bursary to OLA Secondary School, Ho. I then left OLA in 1975 to Peki Secondary School and completed in 1977.
In the same year, I completed my secondary school, I then furthered to Takoradi Polytechnic to pursue DBS Secretaryship which I completed in 1979.
After school, I met one man called Ken Arku whom I later got married to and years on we got divorced. That marriage was survived by my only child Kenneth Innocent Arku.
WORKING LIFE
I started by selling egg and things were really difficult at the time because I was by then pregnant with my child. I then made my younger sister Esi to come and stay with me to school so as to help me in my daily chores. We then decided to collect cloth from people on credit and sell to get our daily bread as I could not count on selling only the egg.
I was in the market one day when a certain woman called “Kloteynor” came and asked me if I am not Dze Yesu Yome’s daughter, I answered in the affirmative and she asked if can sell cloth. At the time there was scarcity of cloth and they smuggle it from Lomé. I was interested so she promised to bring me a good stock which she later delivered to me. I started Selling cloth with my little son on my back with the help of my sister Esi, I go to Mafi –Kumasi, Kpetoe, Kpeve, Kpedze, Kpando and throughout the week I travel to sell, sometimes coming back late in the night before attending to my son.
Unfortunately J.J. Rawlings did the second coup-de ’tat on the 31st December, 1981 and we were all asked to sell the cloth on control price so I have to sell on credit to people who even refused to pay the money because we learnt there would be House to House cleaning and if you a seen with just one full piece, there will be trouble for you. That was where I stopped selling cloth.
In 1983 , I met one Lizzy from Hohoe who introduced me to buying and selling of foods stuff from Northern Volta. With just ₵14,000.00 I had at the time, I took on the challenge and things went well. Later I met a transport officer of Food Distribution who introduced me to the manager and I was contracted to be an agent and be supplying food to the corporation. In 1986, have to stop for circumstances beyond me.
In 1987, I decided to enter into the Nigeria business, things went well from the beginning but the unfortunate happened. My goods were arrested by the Militia at Tanyigbe through a driver who deceived me and collected money and dumped the goods for it to be arrested and it was worth ₵3,million.
During the cause of my Food Distribution works, I established a store which was very stocked so I was still having some money after the arrest.
In 1990, I decided to form a company using my name and that of my only child. I then used our initials as V-Victoria, A-Awusi, N- And, A-Arku, K-Kenneth, K-Korku (VANAKK). From then, I started sourcing for food supplies contracts from government agencies and departments. I have been very successful in this venture by supplying to Nsawam Prisons, Ho Prisons and other Prisons across the country. I also had contracts with the UN to supply food items to various refugees’ camps in Africa. The Military was not left out as I cooked Kenkey and supplied them with various food items. Hardwork is my hobby and I’m happy to have come this far.
My love for family made me took my siblings in and looked after them in school even though it is sometimes very difficult to afford three square meals a day. I always want to foster family unity and to keep all happy.
My love for the catholic church and the religious havepushed me to always be on hand to help in any form so as to build the church and keep its legacy for generations
POLITICAL LIFE
My political life started in 1990, when the ban on political activities were lifted. I then with the help of some few members built a strong base for the DPP in the Volta Region and vividly recall my meetings with the leadership of the NDC when the DPP merged with the NDC
Fast forward I became the president of Mahama Ladies in the region and we worked so hard but lost the 2016 elections.
THE END AND SETTING OF THE SUN
Vic had been sick from January, 2021 but was still going about her normal duties. She’s been in and out of admission but was still strong and was able to organize the funeral of the mother and her burial in Tsiame on the 31st January, 2021. Little did we know what was in stock exactly ten days later.
On that faithful day, she called the son to pick her to the Ho Teaching Hospital for a review but at exactly 12 midnight on 10th February, 2021 she passed on to glory.
Her good life will be defined by the legacy she has left behind. Her vision and investment in education, her insistence on upholding good morals as well as her talent for commerce have paid off handsomely.
She left behind the only son K.K, numerous families and friends to mourn her.
Hede nyuie.
Na dzudz) le nutifafa me.