The unnamed protagonist works as a railway freight clerk in post-independence Ghana. He struggles to support his family while refusing to participate in the widespread bribery and corruption that define the new political system. His commitment to honesty alienates him from his peers and family, leaving him battling feelings of isolation and despair as he moves through a deteriorating physical environment.

An old schoolmate of the protagonist, Koomson serves as a powerful and wealthy minister in the government. He embraces the materialism of the new Ghanaian elite, enjoying imported European goods and flaunting his high social status. His comfortable lifestyle constantly reminds the protagonist of the financial rewards of political corruption and the widening gap between the rich and everyday citizens.

Oyo is the protagonist's wife, carrying the heavy burden of managing a household in a struggling economy. She openly admires the affluent lifestyle of politicians and feels intense disappointment in her husband’s refusal to improve their social standing through bribery. She consistently pushes him to be more ambitious and practical, viewing his moral high ground as a weakness that punishes their family.

A reclusive and philosophical individual, Teacher acts as the protagonist's primary confidante and sounding board. He listens to the man's moral struggles and understands the heavy weight of social pressure in their rapidly changing country. Unlike the protagonist, Teacher has entirely given up hope for the new society, choosing intellectual withdrawal over active participation in a corrupt world.

Estie is Koomson's wife, a woman who fully embraces the privileges and comforts of the political elite. She expects expensive imported food and maintains a haughty distance from those she considers beneath her social station. Her demeanor and reliance on luxury goods represent the post-colonial imitation of European lifestyles.

A figure from the protagonist's past, Sister Maanan was once a beautiful and hopeful young woman who spent time with him by the seawater. She represents the lost optimism of their youth and the early days of political change, having once passionately urged her friends to listen to the new politicians before the reality of corruption set in.

A childhood companion from the protagonist's past who spent time smoking near the ocean with him and Sister Maanan. His memory weighs heavily on the protagonist, illustrating the crushing pressure of reality and the deep sorrow that consumes those unable to cope with their environment.

Amankwa is a timber-cutting contractor navigating the slow bureaucratic hurdles of the railway administration. Operating under the firm assumption that everyone in the system is corrupt, he casually attempts to bribe the protagonist to expedite his business, only to be left entirely astonished when his money is rejected.

Atia is the night sweeper at the Railway & Harbour Administration Block. His menial position gives the protagonist a rare moment of perspective, realizing that there are workers in the bureaucratic system who are worse off financially than he is.

An old classmate of the protagonist who owned a fascinating book of oddities. He represents the protagonist's distant memories of school days and the strange, accelerated nature of life and aging in their changing country.

The young daughter of Koomson and Estie. She lives a life of absolute privilege, surrounded by expensive clothes and imported toys. Her comfortable existence serves as a direct visual contrast to the protagonist’s own children, forcing him to question whether his moral rigidity unfairly punishes his family.