The sad end of the ‘susu box’
For those hearing the name for the first time, the susu box is the same as the “money box” or “piggy bank”. They are mostly made from wood, metal or clay materials.
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People keep money usually in small denominations in the box for a specified period of time before they break into it for money.
To keep the susu box safe from others, it is normally hidden in rooms.
Changes to institutions
It now appears that dust is almost settling on the prominence of the susu box in many Ghanaian homes as a result of the advent of modern banking systems.
The use of the box to save money is gradually diminishing and fast becoming unattractive to both the young and old.
Even market women who are known to be key patrons of the susu box have all changed financial gears to banks and microfinance institutions.
Keepers’ nature
The susu practice called for a great sense of self-discipline and commitment. This is because keepers of the susu box are always tempted to break into the box for some money before the time of maturity.
The practice also encourages one to put aside part of their earnings as savings, thus enabling one to cultivate the habit of savings.
Mobile money
Apart from the banks and microfinance companies that seem to have caused the extinction of the susu box, the telecommunications’ mobile money business has not only suffocated the breath of the susu box, but has signed its death warrant in the minds of the youth.
Mr Abdul Rashid, a carpenter, said he had stopped making susu boxes due to low patronage.
According to him, the few boxes he made were not purchased, adding that he had to give them for free to some school children to enable them cultivate the habit of saving money.
“People are no more interested in using the susu box to save money”, he said, adding “I think they prefer banks because of armed robbers who now break into people’s houses for money.”
Traders’ views
In an interview, Madam Rubama Adam, a 68-year-old trader in Tamale in the Northern Region said using a susu box was very helpful since it helped to save some coins for difficult days.
“Whenever I am in need of money, I quickly go to my susu box to get some money rather than going to borrow from someone,” she said.
She, however, explained that using the susu box with stubborn children in your home could easily turn them into thieves as they would secretly visit the box to get some coins.
Madam Adam added that she had to stop the susu practice when one of her children started visiting her susu box for coins.
However, Ms Sukena Shaibu, a seller at the Yapei market, said she was discouraged from the susu practice because her mother kept tampering with her box whenever she was not around.
Ms Shaibu explained that even when she changed the position of the box, her mother would still search for it and pour out the content, and always left her an empty box.
Professionals
Ms ZuleihaI Abubakar, a level 200 Communication student of the Tamale Polytechnic, said she had been mobilising funds to purchase items such as books, shoes, skirts, blouses, and belts through the use of the susu box.
For her part, Ms Jessica Nana Ama Otuahene, a teacher, stated that saving in the susu box was good, but “it is very annoying when you need to take some money and you have to shake it many times.”
She explained that she had kept a susu box since childhood as a way of saving money.
Mr Jonathan Donkoh, a journalist, said he was motivated to use the susu box due to long queues at banks, but the insecurity associated with keeping the money in the house had forced him to patronise the services of banks.
The bankers
The Northern Regional Relationship Manager of the UT Bank, Mr Iddrisu Amadu Issah, said although the “piggy box” was convenient for the non-banking population, the practice was becoming unpopular with the proliferation of banks.
He said “the convenience of banking services has almost made the piggy boxes useless in our time. The importance of the piggy box is still there. We cannot totally make it extinct
Mr Issah, therefore, encouraged parents to give the piggy boxes to their children to enable them to cultivate the habit of saving.
Writer’s email: [email protected]
