In the bustling streets of Sierra Leone, amidst the chaos of daily life, one man’s journey from humble beginnings to eco-conscious entrepreneur is capturing hearts and minds. Amadu Deen Bah, the CEO and founder of Caballay Investment, is on a mission to transform the way we think about plastic bags and environmental sustainability.
Bah’s story is one of resilience and innovation, rooted in his early experiences as a roadside vendor alongside his single mother. At the tender age of 13, he learned the value of hard work and determination as he sold bags to passersby.
His passion for environmental conservation was ignited through his involvement in community clean-up efforts, where he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of plastic pollution. Despite initial attempts to recycle plastic bags, Bah encountered setbacks that led him to reconsider his approach.
An epiphany struck him: what if he could replace plastic bags with a more sustainable alternative? Thus, the idea of paper bags was born. However, the journey to realizing this vision was fraught with challenges. A heavy downpour one morning resulted in flooding, causing Bah to lose all his wares and face a setback in his entrepreneurial journey.
Undeterred, Bah sought support from initiatives like the Anzisha Prize Fellowship and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which provided him with crucial funding totaling $6,000. With this financial boost, Bah aimed to establish an office and expand his operations. Yet, the road ahead was paved with obstacles, including purchasing the wrong materials for paper bag production and navigating price increases during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, Bah’s resilience shone through as he leveraged the power of networking to identify hotels as key consumers of paper bags. By strategically marketing his products in this direction, Bah not only found success but also diversified his customer base to include supermarkets, fashion stores, stationery shops, printing presses, and restaurants.
Through Caballay Investment, Bah is not only providing eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags but also championing a sustainable future for generations to come. His inspiring journey serves as a testament to the power of determination, innovation, and community engagement in driving positive change. As Bah continues to pave the way towards a greener tomorrow, his story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide
