In a cramped single room in Takoradi, seven people shared space, meals, laughter, and dreams. Among them was Charlotte Derban better known today as Charly D, a name now synonymous with hard work, creativity, and resilience in Ghana’s food and entertainment industry.
“We were poor, but we were rich in love and determination,” Charly recalled in her candid conversation on Kwaku Manu’s Aggressive Interview. “I told myself very early that I would not allow where I started to determine where I’d end up.”
Daughter of a ‘trotro’ driver and a cook, Charly’s childhood was defined by sacrifice and struggle. Growing up with her parents and five siblings in a one-room home, she learned the value of hard work early.
At just seven years old, she began selling pastries to help support her family, becoming the breadwinner at a tender age.
In her early adult years, Charly’s life took a glamorous turn when she won the Miss Vienna Beauty Pageant in Takoradi. The crown came with a brand-new car, but she made a daring and strategic choice—she exchanged the car for $5,000 in cash.
That single decision became the seed capital for her entrepreneurial journey, funding the launch of what would become her biggest breakthrough.
Determined to rewrite her family’s story, Charly relocated to Accra. With her $5,000 savings, boundless determination, and a sharp business instinct, she started Charly’s Restaurant and later Swift Breakfast and Lunch, a vibrant eatery known for its warm atmosphere and delicious meals.
Not only did she migrate for her own future, she brought her entire nuclear family from Takoradi to Accra, creating stability and opportunities for them.
From the girl who once sold pastries on the streets, Charly D has become a job creator, employing young Ghanaians and offering them a decent source of income in an industry often plagued by instability.
Today, Swift Breakfast and Lunch boasts two successful branches in Accra, serving as both a business and a platform for youth empowerment.
Charly’s journey mirrors the resilience of countless Ghanaians who rise from challenging beginnings to build thriving enterprises. In a country where youth unemployment is a pressing challenge, her success is proof that vision and courage can turn even the smallest opportunities into life-changing ventures.
