Ghanaian Grit and Global Vision: Moses Samanhiya’s Journey from Entrepreneurship to Social Justice

Meet Moses Samanhiya, our dedicated Product Manager from Ghana and a former serial entrepreneur.

Moses grew up admiring his mother, an extraordinary entrepreneur and devoted single parent, whose resilience and compassion deeply influenced him. As a practising Christian, Moses believes strongly in the power of community and the importance of good deeds. With Moses on our team, we are excited about the progress we can make towards ending domestic violence with Chatbot Sophia. Let’s learn more about his inspiring journey.

Hi Moses, tell us about your childhood in Ghana.

My childhood was a mix of joy and challenges; let me explain. 

I was raised by a single mother who survived domestic violence in her marriage. We were five siblings, and my mother, the sole breadwinner, worked tirelessly to support us. She ran a small business, selling commodities in retail after purchasing from wholesale markets.

Watching her, we learned the importance of hard work and compassion. Growing up in a loving family was wonderful, but it was also difficult to witness the challenges my mother faced managing everything on her own. Despite the hardships, she ensured we had meals every day, access to education, and a life of dignity. By leading by example, she instilled in us a go-getter attitude and the value of honesty. These lessons have stayed with us throughout our lives.

How has your professional journey been so far?

I studied telecommunication engineering but trained myself to become a software engineer. At the time, telecommunication was mostly hardware-based, and we saw little technology in use. So, a few friends and I started exploring software because we recognised its vast potential in everyday life. This fascination led us to self-study and develop our skills in software engineering.

I also aspired to be an entrepreneur, inspired by my mother. I have founded four ventures so far. My first venture was at 20 when my friends and I started an ecommerce business to sell daily necessities, building on the software skills we had acquired.

Later, I explored other ventures and participated in various competitions. I developed an enterprise management software which included a point of sale (POS), inventory, HR, accounting and invoicing tool to help small and medium enterprises, like my mother’s. It helped to manage their sales and logistics digitally instead of manually. The software solution was well-received, and within a year, we had onboarded over 300 clients.

One of my other ventures became quite successful, securing Series A funding. Once the setup was complete and operations were running smoothly, I decided to step down from management and transition to a board member role. This allowed me to pursue my interest in social justice.

As I’ve always believed,

“If you have the voice to join a cause, then you must, because not everyone has it.”

Also, I think a business is like a child—it needs to grow without you when the time comes.

How did you become a part of Spring ACT?

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I participated in various innovation challenges, becoming quite familiar with pitching and winning. One such challenge was organised by the UN office in Ghana and focused on tackling child abuse. I assisted my senior brother in this competition, and as we worked together, I wondered if there could be a product to help children who face abuse.

From my experiences and observations, I know that many people endure abusive relationships and face various challenges, often without knowing their rights or options.

This motivated me to explore ways to reduce domestic abuse, including child abuse.

During this time, my senior brother mentioned an opening at Spring ACT. As I researched the organisation, I discovered that Spring ACT had developed Chatbot Sophia—an idea similar to the one I had been considering. I could see the potential of this chatbot to transform lives.

I applied, and after several rounds of assessment, I was selected as the Product Manager. Now, I’m helping the team improve Chatbot Sophia and other tools to amplify our efforts in ending domestic violence globally.

How do you think technology can shape the world for the better?

I believe the possibilities for technology to be used for good are limitless. AI, especially in chatbot applications, is incredibly innovative. Unlike earlier versions, it doesn’t rely solely on predetermined answers, making it more human-centric. It’s also more accessible and easy to use. For example, Chatbot Sophia is available 24/7 worldwide in multiple languages—a huge credit to AI.

Is there a quote that you live by?

“A person is a person because of other people.”

This quote reminds me that we cannot live in isolation. You cannot be called a professor, for instance, without others acknowledging you as such.

This inspires me daily not to be self-centred and to care for others. It’s essential to think about the greater good for everyone, as that’s what will help humanity thrive.

What’s your favourite book and why?

Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins. It discusses finance and seven steps to financial freedom.

I like it because the book emphasises the importance of having discipline and a plan in life.

When you’re building a product, you prioritise your customers’ needs and then consider the finances. It’s a reminder that it’s crucial to set your priorities right by putting values first.

What does an injustice-free world mean to you?

To me, an injustice-free world is one where everyone has the opportunity and freedom to grow without limitations.

What do you want to be remembered for?

I want to excel in my field so much that my name isn’t forgotten. It’s all about hard work, good work, and compassion.

 

 – Interviewed by Ahona Azad Choyti for Spring ACT