Ghana is Bustling With Entrepreneurship and It’s Exciting
At the The Undiscovered Author Book Fair, there were a good number of small businesses that were present to sell to the hundreds of kids and parents. It’s a known fact that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) are the engines of growth for every nation’s economy. Individual SMEs are small establishments that churn out puny profits but the sheer number of SMEs is what makes the industry a multibillion-dollar one in many national economies. Armed with my camera and a desire to learn and network, I went around to meet the entrepreneurs who were showcasing and selling their products and services. I would interact with them and get to know them and their businesses.
I made the following observations:
- Many young Ghanaians are choosing entrepreneurship. Though entrepreneurship in Ghana is a tough one in an unfavourable environment characterised by lack of access to funds, suffocating systems and many roadblocks and setbacks, many of these enterprising young men and women have invested their personal funds into their dream business with no assurance of success, yet they are building their enterprises one block at a time. Each day of looking for the next client is a day of doing much hard work, showing inner grit and fervour and keeping on with the hope of succeeding at their businesses. They would rather be their own bosses than be comfortable with a well-paying 9 to 5 job. They will engage in a venture that earns them a meagre amount than settle in an unfulfilling job that gives them a good paycheck.
- A number of these entrepreneurs have nine-to-five jobs, though they mention that they want to grow their business into a profitable venture then they will quit their day jobs. You don’t have to quit your job to be an entrepreneur. You have a feasible idea that can be turned into a business? Go ahead with it. That’s a good start. You can have a business running and remain at your day job. You can do this by employing someone to do the day-to-day running of the enterprise. You will then join in after work hours and during the weekends.
- Six in every ten entrepreneurs I spoke to were under 30 years and more than half were women. This is telling of how enterprising Ghanaian millennials and Generation Zs are. Unlike the generation or two before them who were concerned about job security and could stay (and are still staying) at one workplace till retirement, these crop of young entrepreneurs don’t want to go the way of their fathers. They want to carve a different path. They want to build something they can be proud of, something that will outlive them. They are the generation most exposed to information. They’ve watched and read about successful entrepreneurs over the last century and they want to build something great too. They probably have had an entrepreneur they admire respond to their tweet. 🐦 They know they are not far from achieving the success of the men and women they consider role models.
- What I saw is just a tip of the iceberg. Indeed Africa is rising and that’s not a cliché. The focus of this article is to showcase the small businesses I interacted with at the book fair. To explore a broader scope of Ghanaian and African entrepreneurship, you’d have to get Elikem Kuenyehia’s textbook on Ghanaian entrepreneurship or look forward to getting a copy of Sangu Delle’s upcoming book on entrepreneurship in Africa. This generation of young Africans see themselves as the ones to rebuild Africa and retell its story. They are coming home to rebuild. The extent of entrepreneurship on the continent cannot be fully documented — from the young woman who makes sobolo (a local drink made from the hibiscus flower) and supply to school kids and small shops to the recent graduate who buys and resells phones on online shops, entrepreneurship on the continent comes in many shapes and forms.
- The level of innovation is high. I was highly impressed with Sarah, a product designer who makes learning materials for early childhood education. One friend of mine couldn’t believe that she had designed the playcards herself and printed them here in Ghana. To him it was too outstanding to have been made here! So yes, exceptional things are being made at home in Ghana. Upcoming entrepreneurs are championing the ideals of quality, excellence and innovation. They’ve seen the ideal, so they are not settling for the mediocre.
Below, I take you along on the journey I took, giving short descriptions or insights into the small businesses that I interacted with.
Skin Gourmet
Skin Gourmet is a manufacturer of natural food and beauty products made from locally sourced raw materials. Their product range includes soaps, body butter, natural oils for skin and hair, edible oils, pure wild honey, edible seeds and fruit palp.
Beauty Secrets
Beauty Secrets manufactures and sells natural body care products. Their product range includes shea butter body cream and soap, black soap (alata samina), cocoa butter body cream, coconut oil and more.
White Kente
White Kente also produces natural and organic beauty products for the skin and hair. Their product range include noni juice — an edible drink made from the noni fruit as well as oils, body creams and soaps.
Sarafina
Sarafina manufactures and sells edible coconut oil, and Ghana’s Tom Brown and Mori Koko, both breakfast cereals made from maize.
Mindsnacks Granola
Mindsnacks makes homemade granola with no artificial flavours or preservatives and no added sugars or wheat. I bought one of the granolas and it was that good!
Abovo Confectionary
Abovo produces one thing: chocolates. Chocolates to eat on a normal day and chocolates to gift a friend or loved one.
Swirley’s Frozen Yoghurt
Swirley’s sells frozen yoghurt that all the kids love! They’ve got some good branding with bright colours that will catch your eye.
Sips Mobile Mixologist
Sips makes creative distinctive cocktails for all your events.
The Food Basket
This is the third food I tasted, and oh my, it was so good. The lady pictured prepared a fruit salad of bananas, mangoes, melons, grapes, coconut chips (and a blended fruit mix with a secret recipe) for me. She then topped it with honey. With no added sugar, you are immediately plunged into a sweetness mire. 😩😆😋 The Food Basket’s specialty is fruit salads, fruit parfaits, teas and accompaniments like samosa and sandwiches.
Amazing how I forgot to get the name of this business, but they make classy footwear for the stylish lady and gentleman. I particularly like their blue and purple shoe and brown shoe with African print.
Adubea Jensen
Adubea Jensen is a luxury handmade bead bag brand. Aside bags, they make other fashion and everyday accessories like car tissue holder and call card holder.
Ama Kwakye Co.
Ama is a fashion designer and stylist and sells the dress you’d love to wear. She’s got her own personal style too. 😉
Alexander Rose
Alexander Rose manufactures luxury (mostly) handmade or handwoven outdoor furniture sets. Though this is a UK brand, it is worth showing here. Entrepreneurship is not always about producing. Retail is also entrepreneurship. Probably for you, your entrepreneurial path may be reselling goods or offering a service.
Ceras
Ceras makes and sells preschool learning materials in addition to reselling other imported quality educational materials.
Leap
Leap offers foundational learning experiences through audiovisuals, as well as other related educational products. They also run the Ubongo Kids TV program.
Incredible Labels
Incredible Labels offers waterproof and non-peeling name labels for school kids. [Phone: 0275443055]
Tranquility Spa
Tranquility Spa offers massaging and beauty treatments in addition to their natural-ingredient insect repellent.
Roses ‘N’ More
They grow foliage and flowering plants for your gardens and interior decor. They don’t only sell, they also offer continuous professional service and tools to help you get the most from your garden. [Location: J5 Manet Ville, East Airport, Accra. Phone: 0244231608, 0209982116.]
This establishment grows beautiful cactus and aloe plants for homes and offices. See the second picture. I totally love that specie. 👆
Behind this foliage is a pull-up banner of a yam chips and chicken business. I really liked their packed lunch of fried yam chips and chicken, though their chilli was super hot. At GHC10, it might be expensive for some people, yet I’ll buy from them again if our paths cross one more time.
Brass Handicraft
This brass-smith makes adornments and brass sculptures. My personal favourite was the man on the motorbike. Such talent. Reach Alex on 0249926454.
Below are other businesses I didn’t take pictures of or didn’t interact with much.
Evive Delights: Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, pies and more.
Kokoushh Freshly Bottled Coconut Water: They bottle fresh coconut water and serve it chilled. Their sell-line is ‘from nature to you with nothing in between.’
Naa Amoah Ventures: Retailers of American, British and Canadian groceries.
Nature’s Brew: They make homemade bissap, asaana, shito, fresh fruit juices and iced tea.
Zero & Below: They make ice-based fruit pops. Amazing how their product gets the kids excited, and your kids can get them without you worrying as their fresh syrups are made from locally sourced fruits with no artificial colouring, additives or preservatives.
Blend It: They make loafs and cakes for homes and occasions. Their product offers include oatmeal loafs, apple cinnamon loafs, raisin bran muffins, intense chocolate cake and chocolate brownies.
Hawaiian Shaved Ice: This is an American brand. The bottles you see below are fruit-based syrups used to make frozen treats like ice pops and snow cones.
Devio Kids Wear: Devio Wear makes clothes for kids. Most of their dresses are made with a touch of African print.
Intrigued by Service: They offer hotel booking services and more. They know all the luxurious getaways and hotels in Ghana.
Books and play materials for kids were also on sale. Vidya Bookstore, located in Osu was one of about five book sellers.
In summary, young people are doing great stuff right here at home. So for all of you young people out there who are not finding jobs to do, let these business ideas inspire you to start something on your own. Money (start-up capital) is not the biggest limitation in running a small business. Start small and gradually grow your venture into something you’d be proud of.
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