Getting Down to Business in Ghana

The REMADE project is an initiative that works with those people who are serious and ready to start their business in Ghana; who have a good portion of their capital - at least 50% - and are looking for one to one assistance to bring their vision into reality.

The African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), a charitable company/social enterprise set up in 1994, has teamed up with International Enterprise (IntEnt) to run an exciting new programme - the REMADE enterprise development programme – aimed at people from Ghana or the African Diaspora who want to start a business or to establish a branch of their business in Ghana.

The REMADE project – a European Union co-funded project that will last for three years to December 2011 - is taking place in the UK, Netherlands and Ghana. It is, says the programme managers, a project that works with people who are serious about business.

The beauty of this project for the entrepreneur, says the project team, is that it effectively cuts down on the leg work needed to start a business in Ghana. The main partner, IntEnt, has an office in Ghana where clients will receive one-to-one support and guidance as well as the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs in Ghana. The project other partners include EMPRETEC, Ghana leading entrepreneur support agency, who will provide advice, business advisor support and assistance with research. The programme is also working with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) which holds a wealth of information on viable investment areas and is where new businesses must register in Ghana.

ReConnect Africa spoke to Elvina Quaison, the REMADE Project Manager, about the benefits of the programme and the impact this initiative will make on job creation in Ghana.

RCA: What is the benefit to people who sign up as clients for the REMADE project?

Elvina Quaison: The REMADE project has a number of benefits; the key one being the opportunity to work with business advisors in the UK who have knowledge of setting up a business abroad, and particularly Ghana. They are able to offer advice on what to look out for; suggestions on how to enhance your idea or business expansion and to ensure that you have taken into consideration issues that may not arise if you were starting your business in the UK, for example.

In addition the client will go on a market research trip to Ghana where they will get assistance from business advisors in Ghana who have the knowledge, expertise and experience to make the client time both worthwhile and very productive.

These, I feel, are two key benefits. However, the project has a number of benefits influenced by the fact that we, at AFFORD, want your business to be a success and to become a reality that lasts. To this end, we do everything we can to support the entrepreneur and their idea.

RCA: What impact do you think this project will have on creating jobs in Ghana?

Elvina Quaison: The project has a key aim which is to create over 100 businesses in Ghana; if each new business has even one member of staff that is the immediate creation of 100 jobs.

The ripple effect of the income power of that employee cannot be underestimated. That income can translate into school fees being paid, savings being made, and health costs being met. In short, by having an income within a household, it will impact on the economic well-being of the household, the community, and the country.

That is the key reason why AFFORD is running this project; we believe business and employment opportunities are the key to sustainable development. This is something we believe and this is what the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) believes. They have said that Africa needs 8 billion jobs to enable sustainable development, growth and progress. AFFORD wants to create avenues that contribute to making this a reality.

RCA: How will this project enable people to create more viable business in Ghana?

Elvina Quaison: The business expertise feeding into the project and the various components of the project will help the entrepreneur identify if they are ready to run their business in Ghana; if their business idea is robust enough to work, look at the proposed market to identify competition and be clear about their place in the market.

We have had very constructive feedback from our current clients who have been provided the opportunity to really explore the various aspects of their business and the realities of starting their business. This, in turn, informs their planning and supports the possibility of sustained success.

The project also focuses on the importance of having a strong business plan. People are often very excited about bringing the business to life and do not take the time to plan - which can help identify and safeguard against potential pitfalls or help recognise alternative beneficial ways of doing things.

While the REMADE project does not provide direct financial assistance, we recognise that this is a key consideration for the entrepreneur. As a result, we are working at locating various avenues that clients can approach to access capital or investment. To this end, we need to ensure the client has a business plan that is attractive enough for the entrepreneur to take to potential investors and to come out with a positive outcome.

The fact that the REMADE project has EU funding support means that we are able to subsidise the cost to clients and support clients in a meaningful and unique way at a very reasonable cost.

How will this project help more people overseas or in the Diaspora have viable businesses in Ghana?

Elvina Quaison: The project for the UK is based in London and we have partners in Ghana who include IntEnt Ghana, which is a Netherlands based company that works internationally with entrepreneurs. We are also working with the Ghana Investment and Promotion Centre (GIPC) who are the key organisation in Ghana for those wanting to set up any business in Ghana, no matter the sector.

Our partnership with them means direct access for our clients to the right people and it provides us the ability to work with anybody no matter the sector your business falls within.

The business advisors we work with in Ghana are business consultants in their own right or are connected with the organisation EMPRETEC, which is an enterprise support agency with an office in every major city in Ghana. This means our clients receive quality support in Ghana and they can be confident that wherever they wish to set up in Ghana there is excellent support there for them.

When you live abroad and have little knowledge of how to set up a business or how business works in Ghana, having a project like REMADE is exactly what will help make your path to success a great deal smoother and more direct.

Starting a new initiative is always scary and can be daunting, REMADE has been created to help make the process as straight forward as possible. Starting anything new is made easier with knowledge and support and that is why the REMADE project is invaluable to those who live outside Ghana or the African Diaspora who seriously want to start a business in Ghana.

We at AFFORD want to help you and the best way we can do that is by welcoming you onto the REMADE project.

To further assist our REMADE clients, people already in business and those who are in the initial stages of thinking about entering the world of entrepreneurship AFFORD is establishing a business club.

For a nominal annual amount clients would benefit from becoming a member of the Business Club which will:

The club is being supported by the Ghana High Commission UK department of Trade and Industry. This will ensure that our members will be able to direct questions directly to the right department and be kept up to date on various initiatives and incentives that the Government introduce periodically.

REMADE is about helping you to see if you have made the right decision and then helping you move your idea and yourself forward. We will work with you as an individual and help develop your business idea or business expansion.