reintegr-action - iom malta

REINTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES IN GHANA FOR

RETURNEES FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Project funded by the European Return Fund under Community Actions 2010 and implemented by IOM Missions in Malta, Germany, the Netherlands and Ghana

REINTEGR-ACTIONPilot Initiative to Test Feasible andSustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU

German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees

Partners:

Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security

of the Republic of Malta

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

National Disaster Management Organization,

Ghana

REINTEGR-ACTION. Reintegration Opportunities in Ghana for Returnees from European Countries

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REPORT CONTRIBUTORS

Professor Sam Afrane (KNUST)

Valentina Ami Amados (IOM)

Samuel Yaw Akomea (KNUST)

Michael Adusei (KNUST)

K. Owusu Kwateng (KNUST)

Emmanuel Quansah (KNUST)

This publication was produced by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the research team

from the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

(KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, within the framework of the project ”REINTEGR-ACTION – Pilot Initiative to Test

Feasible and Sustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU”.

Funded by the European Return Fund under Community Actions 2010, the REINTEGR-ACTION project is

implemented by IOM Missions in Malta, Germany, the Netherlands and Ghana, in cooperation with external

partners: the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Ministry for Home Affairs and National

Security of the Republic of Malta, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the

National Disaster Management Organization of the Republic of Ghana and the Research and Counseling

Foundation for African Migrants.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official

position of the IOM, the European Commission or project partners. Omissions and errors remain the sole

responsibility of the authors.

_____________________________________________________

© 2013 International Organization for Migration (IOM)

_____________________________________________________

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior

written permission of the publisher.

Suggested citation: International Organization for Migration (2013). Reintegration Opportunities in

Ghana for Returnees from European Countries. REINTEGR-ACTION – Pilot Initiative to Test

Feasible and Sustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................................7

LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................................7

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................. 8

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. 10

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 11

1.1 Objectives of the Study…………………………………………………………........................13

1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 14

1.2.1 Data Required ....................................................................................................... 15

1.2.2 Data Sources and Instruments .............................................................................. 15

1.2.3 Sampling Techniques ........................................................................................... 15

1.2.4 Data Analysis ....................................................................................................... 16

1.3 Structure of the Report ................................................................................................................ 16

A. SECTION ONE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLIMATE ................................................................... 17

2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN GHANA ............................................................................. 17

2.1 Overview of Ghana’s Economic Environment ........................................................................... 17

2.2 Current Socio-Economic Developments ..................................................................................... 19

2.3 Interventions for Poverty Reduction ........................................................................................... 21

2.4 Informal Sector .......................................................................................................................... 23

2.5 Business Culture in Ghana .......................................................................................................... 23

2.5.1 The Concept of Family Business .......................................................................... 23

2.5.2 Business Networks ............................................................................................... 24

2.5.3 Bargaining or Haggling ........................................................................................ 24

2.5.4 Public Sector Procurement ................................................................................... 25

2.6 Institutional Support .................................................................................................................... 25

2.7 Cultural Considerations against Voluntary Return ..................................................................... 26

2.8 Socio-Economic Situation in Ghana: Implications for Returnees .............................................. 27

3. ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES ....................... 28

3.1 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in Ashanti Region ...........................................28

3.1.1 General Overview.................................................................................................28

3.1.2 Gaps and Opportunities.........................................................................................30

3.2 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in Brong Ahafo Region...................................35


3.2.2 Gaps and Opprtunities...........................................................................................36


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3.3 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in the Eastern Region......................................39



3.4 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in the Western Region.....................................44



3.5 Business Gaps and Opportunities for Returnees in the Greater Accra Region............................49



4. LIST OF TEN BUSINESS INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTABLE IN SMALLER TOWNS ........... 52

5. EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPLY LINKAGES IN THE REGIONS ................................................ 53

5.1 Overview of Employment Opportunities in Ghana .................................................................... 53

5.2 Employment Opportunities in the Regions ................................................................................. 54

5.3 Opportunities for Supplies in the Regions .................................................................................. 61

B. SECTION TWO: AVAILABLE SOCIAL STRUCTURES IN GHANA .................................. 63

1. OVERVIEW OF GHANA’S POLICY IN THE FIELD OF READMISSION, RECEPTION AND

REINTEGRATION OF RETURNING NATIONALS. ....................................................................... 63

1.1 Readmission, Reception and Reintegration Policy in Ghana ...................................................... 63

2.2 Social Structures in Ghana: Implications for Returnees ............................................................. 66

2. INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE REINTEGRATION OF

RETURNEES. ...................................................................................................................................... 67

2.1 List of Institutions and Agencies that Could Assist Returnees in Finding a Job and Institutions

with Potential Employment Opportunities for Returnees. ................................................................ 67

2.1.1 Governmental Institutions, Organizations and Agencies ..................................... 67

2.1.2 Private Employment Agencies, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations. ............ 69

3. VOCATIONAL TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND RE-QUALIFICATION

OPTIONS AVAILABLE.. .................................................................................................................... 73

3.1 Vocational and Professional Training Institutions ...................................................................... 73

3.1.1 National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI). ................................................... 73

3.1.2 Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC) ......................................................... 74

3.1.3 Accra Technical and Training Centre (ATTC) .................................................... 75

3.1.4 List of Vocational Training Service Providers, both Public and Private. ............. 75

4. SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND NETWORKS THAT CAN ASSIST WITH

REINTEGRATION. ............................................................................................................................. 76

5. OVERVIEW OF THE MOST COMMON VULNERABLE GROUPS OF RETURNEES TO

GHANA ................................................................................................................................................ 80


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5.1 Vulnerable Groups ...................................................................................................................... 80

5.1.1 Women, Girls and Children .................................................................................. 80

5.1.2 Unskilled and Uneducated Returnees ................................................................... 81

5.1.3 Persons with Physical or Mental Health Problems ............................................... 81

5.1.4 The Elderly…………………………………………………………………..…..82

5.2 Specific Needs of Most Vulnerable Returnees ........................................................................... 82

5.3 Organizations, Institutions, Associations and NGOs that Can Support the Reintegration of

Vulnerable Returnees. ....................................................................................................................... 83

5.3.1 International Organization for Migration (IOM) .................................................. 83

5.3.2 Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants (RECFAM) ........... 84

5.3.3 Intergenerational Initiative Programme (IIP) ....................................................... 85

5.3.4 Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services (TRAGRIMAC) .... 85

5.3.5 National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) .................................... 86

5.3.6 Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare ....................................................... 86

5.4 Special Assistance Combined with Income-Generating Activities............................................. 87

5.5 Stories of Reintegration .............................................................................................................. 87

5.5.1 Returnee Business and Reintegration Story (1) .................................................... 87

5.5.2 Returnee Business and Reintegration Story (2) .................................................... 89

6. CREATION OF COOPERATIVES BY RETURNEES ................................................................... 90

6.1 Good Practices Regarding the Creation of Cooperatives by Returnees ...................................... 90

6.2 Local NGOs that Can Assist with the Setting-Up of Cooperatives and the Monitoring Process 90

6.2.1 Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services (TRAGRIMAC) .... 90

6.2.2 Scholars in Transit ................................................................................................ 91

6.2.3 IntEnt Ghana ........................................................................................................ 91

6.2.4 EMPRETEC ........................................................................................................ 92

6.2.5 Pentax Management Consultancy Services Ltd .................................................. 92

7. COST OF LIVING AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO RETURNEES IN

GHANA ................................................................................................................................................ 92

7.1 Brief Overview ............................................................................................................................ 92

7.2 Feeding ........................................................................................................................................ 93

7.3 Accommodation .......................................................................................................................... 93

7.4 Health .......................................................................................................................................... 94

7.5 Basic School Education .............................................................................................................. 95

7.6 Utilities: Water, Electricity, Communication and Transportation .............................................. 96


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7.7 Practical Guide to Returness ....................................................................................................... 97

7.7.1 How to Open a Personal /Business Bank Account? ............................................. 97

7.7.2 How to Obtain a Driver’s License? ...................................................................... 98

7.7.3 How to Obtain or Renew a Ghanaian Passport? .................................................. 98

7.7.4 How to Register a Business? ................................................................................ 99

7.7.5 How to Enroll Ones Child into School? ............................................................... 99

7.7.6 How to Register for National Health Insurance? ............................................... 100

7.7.7 How to Access Treatment and Support if One Is HIV Positive? ....................... 100

7.7.8 How to Register to Vote? ................................................................................... 100

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................. 101

Limitations of the Study ...................................................................................................................... 102

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... 103

ANNEXES .......................................................................................................................................... 106

ANNEX 1: CATALOGUE OF BUSINESS PLANS...................................................................... 106

ANNEX 2: SOURCES OF FUNDING .......................................................................................... 159

ANNEX 3: MFI CONTACTS IN GHANA’S FIVE PRINCIPAL REGIONS OF RETURN ....... 160

ANNEX 4: CONTACT LOG ON ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES .............. 162

ANNEX 5: INTERCITY STC TRANSPORTATION COSTS ...................................................... 165

ANNEX 6: MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN GHANA ...................................................... 166


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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Ghana’s Economic Growth in a Ten Year Period (2002-2011) .............................................. 21

Table 2. Business Opportunities in Ashanti Region (according to areas of activity)............................31

Table 3. Business Opportunities in Brong Ahafo Region (according to areas of activity)...................38

Table 4. Business Opportunities in the Eastern Region (according to areas of activity)......................42

Table 5. Business Opportunities in the Western Region (according to areas of activity).....................46

Table 6. Business Opportunities in the Greater Accra Region (according to areas of

activity)..................................................................................................................................................51

Table 7. Universities in the Greater Accra Region ............................................................................... 55

Table 8. Universities in Ashanti Region................................................................................................56

Table 9. Private Universities and Polytechnic in the Eastern Region ................................................... 57

Table 10. Employment Opportunities for Holders of HND and Higher Certificates ........................... 59

Table 11. Selected Supply Opportunities in Ghana (by location) ......................................................... 62

Table 12. Private Employment Agencies .............................................................................................. 70

Table 13. Vocational Training Service Providers ................................................................................. 75

Table 14. Social Service Providers ....................................................................................................... 76

Table 15. MFI Contacts in Ashanti Region ........................................................................................ 160

Table 16. Contacts of Organizations and Institutions ........................................................................ 162

Table 17. List of Governmental Employment Agencies/ District Labour Offices and Public Employment Centres ........................................................................................................................... 164

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Map of Ashanti Region ......................................................................................................... 29

Figure 2: Map of Brong Ahafo Region ................................................................................................. 36

Figure 3: Map of Eastern Region .......................................................................................................... 40

Figure 4: Map of Western Region......................................................................................................... 45

Figure 5: Map of Greater Accra Region ............................................................................................... 49


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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AAIM Alliance Against Irregular Migration

AEO African Economic Outlook

AGRIMAC Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

ART Anti-Retroviral Treatment

ATTC Accra Technical Training Centre

AVRR Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration

BECE Basic Education Certificate Examination

CIA Central Intelligence Agency

ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States

EU European Union

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GLSS Ghana Living Standard Survey

G-NSPS National Social Protection Strategy

GSS Ghana Statistical Service

HND Higher National Diploma

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

ICCES Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills

ICT Information Communication Technology

IMF International Monetary Fund

INN Intergenerational Initiative Programme

IOM International Organization for Migration

JSS Junior Secondary School

KNUST Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

LEAP Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty

MDA Ministries, Departments and Agencies

MESW Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare

NADMO National Disaster Management Organization

NBSSI National Board for Small Scale Industries

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NVTI National Vocational Training Institute

NYEP National Youth Employment Programme

OIC Opportunity Industrialization Centre

OVC Orphans and Vulnerable Children

PLHIV Persons Living with HIV

PTA Parents Teachers Association

RECFAM Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants

SME Small Medium Enterprise

SSNIT Social Security and National Insurance Trust

SSS Senior Secondary School

STC State Transport Coperation

UN United Nations


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UNDP United Nations Development Programme

USAID United States Agency For International Development

VAT Value Added Tax

WAEC West African Examination Council


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The primary and secondary data for this research study conducted within the framework of

the project “REINTEGR-ACTION - Pilot Initiative to Test Feasible and Sustainable Joint

Reintegration Measures from the EU” was gathered from July to November 2012. The efforts

of individuals who were involved in this research are hereby acknowledged.

We are grateful to European Union (EU) for funding the REINTEGR-ACTION project under

the European Return Fund Community Actions 2010. We are also grateful for the external

partners of the project – the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Ministry

for Home Affairs and National Security of the Republic of Malta, the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the National Disaster Management Organization

of the Republic of Ghana and the Research and Counseling Foundation for African Migrants

– for their contributions and support throughout the implementation.

Special thanks to all key informants both from governmental and private institutions, as well

as returnees that contributed through their participation in the series of interviews conducted.

Their input has contributed to the success of the research.

We acknowledge the dedication and support of the staff at the International Organization for

Migration (IOM) Headquarters, the Regional Office for the European Economic Area, the EU

and NATO in Brussels, as well as the Missions participating in the project – IOM Malta,

IOM Germany, IOM Ghana and IOM the Netherlands.

We are grateful to Dyane Epstein, IOM Ghana Chief of Mission, and Laura Maciulskaite,

Project Manager at IOM Malta, for their guidance and support.


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1. INTRODUCTION

Migration is a key dimension of both globalization and development, and international

migration has become one of the foremost development topics of the 21st century.1

According to the United Nations, as of 2012, more than 215 million people live outside their

countries of birth, and over 700 million migrate within their countries.2 Every state has been

touched by human mobility.

From the late 1970s to 2005, about 2 million Ghanaians have migrated to far and near lands

ostensibly to seek greener pastures (Owusu-Ankomah, 2006). Through this process, over the

years, a little over a million Ghanaians have been domiciled in the United States, Canada, as

well as European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the

Netherlands. The rest have migrated to neighbouring countries in West Africa (Tonah, 2007).

While it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics for various years, in their studies, researchers

on migration and remittances have provided the following estimates of the numbers of

Ghanaians living abroad: United States (300,000), United Kingdom (300,000), Canada

(35,000), Germany (46,000), the Netherlands (35,474), Italy (44,000), France (26,715), Spain

(20,405) and Switzerland (14,001) (Mazzucato 2007; Orozco 2005; TwumBaah 2005).

The management of return migration poses significant challenges. It is a key issue on the

agenda of national and international policymakers.3 Aimed at assisting migrants unable or

unwilling to remain in their host countries and in need of support to return home, Assisted

Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programmes are an essential element in any

coherent and effective migration management policy. AVRR programmes target not only

irregular migrants and unsuccessful asylum seekers; they can also support the devising of

protection strategies and the socio-economic reinsertion of victims of trafficking as well as

the management of labor exchange by facilitating the socio-economic reinsertion of returning

labour migrants.

AVRR is a key strategy in ensuring the humane and orderly movement of migrants.

Compared with forced return, AVRR programmes protect the rights and dignity of migrants,

and reduce the psychological stress and related risks associated with forced return. Moreover,

voluntary return is usually less costly for governments, both financially and politicaly.

Therefore, AVRR is an indispensable component of a migration management approach which

is intended to be mutually beneficial to migrants, governments and other sectors of society

affected by migration.

It is a known fact that well-tailored reintegration measures supporting the socio-economic

reinsertion of returnees in their countries of origin can substantially contribute to the

1 International Labour Organization

2 Source

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20648762~menuPK:34480~pagePK:6

4257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html (October 2012) 3 International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ghana, Strategic Plan 2011-2015.


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sustainability of returns. In the absence of reintegration support, reinsertion in their home

countries can be very challenging to returnees, especially after long periods of time spent

abroad. Returnees are vulnerable due to sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and psychosocial

reasons, including but not limited to unemployment, family and environmental factors,

education and health related issues. Some returnees are also likely to have psychological and

mental health problems and, as a result, engage in antisocial behaviors and/or become an

economic liability to their families, communities and the nation as a whole, when they are not

gainfully employed. Most returnees have lost their network in the home country which makes

it difficult for them to connect to their social environment and get appropriate assistance with,

for example, finding a job and accessing key social services and safety nets. More often than

not, returnees find goods and services more expensive and, as a result of increased

urbanization and migration, customary informal social security mechanisms weaker than

before.4 However, due to the mismatch of costs of living and income, most families are no

longer able to support their members who have not been part of the household over recent

years. Due to different combinations of these factors, returnees require special assistance in

order to be able to reintegrate smoothly into the society and to become empowered to take

care of themselves.

About 87.7% (1,090,972) of Ghanaians (1,244,604), who left Ghana between 2000 and 2007

for more than six months, returned (IOM, 2009). The number of Ghanaian emigrants who

returned to the country rose from 18.8% in 2000 to 34.6% in 2007. Approximately 10% of

the stock of emigrants in any given year returns to Ghana (GSS, 1999, cited in IOM, 2009).

Since 2002, IOM has been providing reception and reintegration assistance to returnees in

Ghana. IOM Ghana continues to provide reintegration assistance in order to minimize the

effects of the socio-economic challenges faced by returnees including vulnerable5 ones upon

their return and to ensure that returnees have the best possible chances for successful

reintegration. Over the past two decades, IOM Ghana has coordinated and assisted the

voluntary return and reintegration of Ghanaian migrants from Morrocco, Malta, Libyan Arab

Jamahiriya, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, the

Czech Republic, and Latvia, among other countries.

Between 2002 and 2008, a total of 762 Ghanaian emigrants were assisted to return home

through the IOM AVRR programme. Forty-six per cent (46%) of these returnees received

reintegration assistance in Ghana (IOM, 2009). The number of Ghanaian AVRR returnees

has been gradually increasing to an average of 264 returnees per year between 2007 and 2012

(IOM Ghana Database, 2012). Many of the returnees were irregular migrants for whom

assisted voluntary return presented a viable alternative to deportation. As for the gender

composition, between 2007 and 2009, for instance, approximately 75% of Ghanaian returnees

under the AVRR programme were males and 25% were females.

4 Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, 2012 Draft Ghana National Protection Strategy (GH-GNSPS).

5 Migrants with health needs (physical and psychological), elderly migrants, unaccompanied minors, victims of

trafficking. Other groups of migrants can also be considered vulnerable (for example, single parents and ethnic

minorities) according to the specific situation. (IOM, 2010).


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There is ample evidence that many Ghanaian migrants have the intention of coming back

home. However, uncertainty exists as to how they can successfully reintegrate into their

various communities (Arthur, 2008). The stories that make the rounds within the Ghanaian

communities overseas are mostly those of frustrations and failures of those who volunteered

to return home against peer advice. Such stories and gossips serve as impediments in others’

initiatives to voluntarily return.

In view of these trends and with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of assisted voluntary

returns to Ghana, an action research has been commissioned by the International

Organization for Migration (IOM) to explore small business set-up and employment

opportunities that exist in five selected regions of the country as well as the services,

networks and structures available to help Ghanaian migrants in Germany, the Netherlands,

and Malta to voluntarily return home and to reintegrate smoothly into the prevailing socio-

economic conditions.

Developing innovative joint mechanisms, strategies and tools both at the pre- departure and

post- arrival stages of reintegration becomes particularly important in order for potential

returnees to make informed decision to return; to mitigate the challenges facing their

reintegration upon arrival; and to help prevent them from pursuing migration options in the

future as a result of difficulties encountered in reintegrating into the Ghanaian society.

The present study is one such tool aimed at providing a practical framework for the smooth

and sustainable reintegration of Ghanaian returnees. It is expected to serve as a basis for

voluntary returnees to make informed decisions as to viable economic activities they could

pursue with social structures in place to support them when they return home.

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of the present study is to assess the current socio-economic climate of

Ghana and the opportunities it offers for the reintegration of returnees from European

countries that participate in the implementation of the project “REINTEGR-ACTION - Pilot

Initiative to Test Feasible and Sustainable Joint Reintegration Measures from the EU”,

namely, Germany, the Netherlands, and Malta. The project is an innovative approach aimed

at developing joint mechanisms, strategies and tools that would allow for the sustainable

reintegration of voluntary returnees to Ghana.

In order to design and effectively apply common pre-departure and post-arrival reintegration

measures for Ghanaian returnees, there is a need for a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis

of the socio-economic situation, small business set-up and employment opportunities,

services, networks and structures available in Ghana, particularly in the country’s five

principal regions of return, namely, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and

Western.


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Therefore, the present study is specifically aimed at the following:

A.

1. Analysing the current macro socio-economic conditions and economic policies of the

government of Ghana and assessing their impact on Ghanaian returnees.

2. Identifying sustainable small businesses in selected locations and assessing specific

gaps within the local market that small business initiatives could successfully fill.

3. Examining the general performance and requirements of different categories of small

businesses, their challenges and risk factors.

4. Assessing business opportunities these enterprises offer particularly to new entrants in

terms of job creation, market outlets, value addition, supply chains, support

mechanisms, etc.

5. Developing practical frameworks for setting up small businesses in Ghana by

focusing on:

i. Developing business plans

ii. Methods for direct distribution of products to clients

iii. Methods for obtaining direct inputs from clients;

6. Identifying employment opportunities and vacancies in the public, private and NGO

sectors for which returnees with requisite qualifications could apply.

B.

1. Providing an overview of Ghana’s policy in the field of readmission, reception and

reintegration of returning nationals.

2. Listing relevant institutions or agencies that could assist returnees in finding a job.

3. Providing an overview of vocational training, professional education, re-qualification

options available to returnees, and a list of relevant service providers.

4. Providing an overview of the most common vulnerable groups of returnees to Ghana

and their specific needs, as well as institutions that can assist them. Presenting

examples of reintegration cases where special assistance has been combined with

support towards income-generating activities.

5. Presenting the good practices of the creation of cooperatives by returnees to Ghana as

well as listing local NGOs that could monitor the reintegration processes in Ghana,

assist returnees in setting up of a cooperative as well as monitor its progress.

6. Providing an overview of the costs of living, other social services as well as a concise

practical guide to returnees aimed at facilitating their reintegration in Ghana.

1.2 METHODOLOGY

The study adopted an exploratory approach – a general survey approach looking at the sectors

of Ghana’s economy that are open for investment; and at the social structures availbale to

surport the social reintegration of returnees. The approach entailed the following key

elements:


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1.2.1 Data required

The output of the study required a full understanding of the Ghanaian socio-economic and

business environment ranging from government policies to small business specific

characteristics and taking into account regional differentiations. During data collection

surveys, the following categories of data were collected:

Information on the economic environment of Ghana, including government

policies, business trends, sectoral performances, etc.

Indications about profit levels of small businesses, their capital requirements, risk

levels, potential challenges associated with different business types, etc.

Data on support systems available, market outlets, training programmes, supply

chains, etc.

Data on employment opportunities (business gaps) in the public, private and NGO

sectors.

Data on facilities and social structures available in Ghana for the smooth

reintegration of returnees.

1.2.2 Data sources and instruments

Data were collected from secondary and primary sources. Secondary sources of data included

business survey reports by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), the

Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Chamber of Commerce, government policies on

SMEs, the Business Code of Ghana as well as relevant reports and legal documents such as

the National Ghana Social Protection draft report, National Population Council, the National

Migration Policy draft report, and IOM Ghana Strategic Plan 2011-2015, among others.

Primary data were obtained from interviews and focus groups with key informants, including

returnees, public and private organizations, international organizations, local NGOs and civil

society organizations in Ghana’s five principal regions of return covered in the study. They

also included observations made by the researchers about Ghanaian businesses in different

areas of these five regions.

The key instruments for collecting primary data included semi-structured questionnaires,

focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews using semi-structured interview

guides, observations, etc.

1.2.3 Sampling Techniques

Two main approaches were adopted in this study. Firstly, purposive sampling was used to

select informants to assess the current socio-economic climate of Ghana. Individuals

(including businessmen, voluntary returnees, entrepreneurs, etc.) and institutions such as

NBSSI, AGI, employment and business associations, KNUST Business School, Microfinance

Institutions (MFIs), among others, were purposively selected and interviewed to obtain

targeted data for the assignment. Case studies of successful and unsuccessful returnee


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businesses were also captured. This approach was appropriate for this study one of the main

purposes of which was to develop practical frameworks for setting up small businesses in

Ghana.

Secondly, combined purposive sampling was adopted to assess the facilities and social

structures available in Ghana for the smooth reintegration of returnees. The criterion

technique was adopted in sampling some key informants with important criterion, and others

were sampled through the snowball technique.

1.2.4 Data analysis

The data collected through primary sources were mostly qualitative. Thus, the analysis was

mostly qualitative. However, the analysis was corroborated with quantitative data from desk

research for verification. Moreover, the study identified geographically specific business and

employment opportunities that could bring about successful reintegration. Geographically

specific services were also captured where available.

1.3 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT

The rest of the report comprises the following sections:

Section One: Socio-economic Climate

Socio-economic trends and developments in Ghana

Business gaps and opportunities for returnees - general overview of findings in the

five principal regions of return

List of twenty businesses for each of the five the regions; sector business plans

List of ten business initiatives that could be implemented in smaller towns/cities

Linkages to large companies:

a) Employment opportunities offered by large firms in the regions

b) Opportunities for supplies in the regions

Section Two: Social structures

Ghana’s policy in the field of readmission, reception and reintegration of returning

nationals

Institutions, agencies and services available for the reintegration of returnees from

Malta, Germany and the Netherlands

Vocational training, professional education and re-qualification options available

Social service providers and networks that can assist with reintegration

Most common vulnerable groups of returnees to Ghana and structures available to

support their reintegration

Stories of reintegration

Good practices regarding the creation of cooperatives by returnees to Ghana

Cost of living; other social services available; practical guide to returnees


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A. SECTION ONE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLIMATE

2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN GHANA

This section of the report is aimed at providing an up-to-date overview of the socio-economic

situation in Ghana and its potential implications on the reintegration of Ghanaian returnees.

2.1 OVERVIEW OF GHANA’S ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

Ghana is one of the Anglophone countries in West Africa. It was a colony of England until

independence was granted on March 6, 1957. Geographically, Ghana shares boundaries with

three French-speaking countries, namely, Cote d’Ivoire in the West, Burkina Faso in the

North and Togo in the East. Ghana is a coastal country with the Gulf of Guinea stretching

across the Southern part of the country. The political and administrative capital of Ghana is

Accra located along the coast in the Southern part of the country. Ghana has a wide range of

ethnic groups with the Akan ethnic group dominant in the greater part of the middle belt.

With a population of approximately 25 million, Ghana is the second most populous country

within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), after Nigeria (170

million). The gender demographics of Ghana is made up of approximately 51% female and

49% male (GSS Census, 2010). The population growth in Ghana is approximately 1.8% (CIA

World Facts, 2012). It is estimated that 28.5% of the country’s population live under the

poverty line. Ghana has improved its literacy rate from about 45% in 1970 to about 68% at

present.

The economic activities in Ghana can be categorized into primary (agriculture), secondary

(industry), and tertiary (services). About 55% of the working population is engaged in

agriculture-related jobs. The unemployment rate is at about 20% (CIA World Facts, 2012)

even though most studies continue to refer to the year 2000 figure of 11%. Unemployment

rates are generally believed to be higher than those presented by politicians since a majority

of those employed are underemployed. The striking factor, however, is a high rate of

graduate unemployment for which no credible data exist but researchers have put it at 50%

(Owusu-Ansah and Poku, 2012). It is noteworthy that the country’s economic system is to a

large extent embedded in its political system; thus for one to understand the socio-economic

situation in Ghana, a brief overview of Ghana’s political history is necessary.

When Ghana gained independence from Britain on March 6, 1957, the vision of the country’s

first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was to make Ghana a model of sustenance in Africa.

His objective was to envisage a bright future for the country and to make it self-reliant in

every possible way so that Ghana could become the standard-bearer of African Independence

and self-development.


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However, things did not go as envisioned. The first military coup took place on 24th

February

1966 overthrowing the nine years of Ghana’s First Republic. Between 1966 and 1993, the

Second and the Third Republics were ushered in at different periods but each of them lasted

for less than 3 years as a result of military interventions. A cursory look at Ghana’s political

history from 1957 to 1993, when the Fourth Republic was inaugurated, reveals that the

military ruled for 22 years whilst the democratic dispensation survived for a total of only 14

years. Prior to 1993, therefore, the nation had little to show for in terms of continuity and

governance structures, whereas the socio-economic fiber of the country was toyed in the

hands of the military for the greater part of its history. Currently, Ghana has two main

political traditions: the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic

Party (NPP). However, there are numerous minor parties which together control less than 4%

of the electorate.

Ghana is a country endowed with natural resources such as gold, diamond, manganese,

bauxite and timber. It also happens to have soil favourable for the cultivation of cocoa and

other cash crops. These products arguably sustained Ghana during the military rule, in the

absence of strategic economic planning. It was during this period that brain drain and

political persecution led to massive emigration of Ghanaians in search for greener pastures

and political asylum, respectively. Migration for greener pastures is used to describe

‘proactive’ migration, whereas those who studied abroad and refused to return as well as

those who sought political asylum are referred to as ‘reactive’ migrants. For instance, during

the period between 1978 and the year 2000, almost every household in the Akan-speaking

areas of Ghana had at least one family member domiciled in a developed country due to

economic or political reasons.

Proactive migration was common among the Akan-speaking ethnic groups of Ghana

(Ashantis, Brongs, Kwahus, Ahanta-Fantis, and the Akyems), except for Fantis in the Central

Region who value education and formal employment over entrepreneurship. The initial

objective of most of those who proactively migrated to the Western world was to look for

capital that would enable them to establish businesses once back home. Generally, the Akans

are considered to be more entrepreneurial in nature than the other tribes. Success in life for

them is measured in assets acquired rather than academic achievements. This could be

inferred from the way the traditional social activities of the Akans are organized. Akan

funerals, festivals, marriages and christening ceremonies, for instance, are characterized by

display of wealth. The chiefs and elders adorn gold and expensive ornaments during durbars

and state appearances. The Akans are also high risk bearers; traveling to Western Europe

without documents or through unapproved routes involves a lot of risk-taking. Hence, Akan

families were willing to lend money for paying ‘visa contractors’ or to otherwise contribute

to sending their wards overseas; in some cases without even agreeing on the country of

destination. In fact, at a point in time, having a relation in the Western world had become a

fashion among the Ashantis, which generated competition among families and households. In

a typical Akan setting, property ownership and excess of it is a measure of prosperity. This,

however, is not the case in the areas of Ghana inhabited by the non-Akan tribes, where self-

actualization is more introspective and people prefer to be respected in their societies as


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elderly statespersons based on character. This is characteristic of the tribes in Northern

Ghana, the Volta region and of the Adangbes and Sefwis in the Northern part of the Western

region. Accra-Tema constitutes the largest cosmopolitan settlements in Ghana and most

Akans are domiciled in this area. This explains why the study concentrated on the Ashanti,

BrongAhafo, Eastern, Western and Greater Accra regions.

The main exodus destinations included the United States of America, Canada, the United

Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Austria, Denmark,

Norway, Sweden, Malta, Cyprus, South Africa, Australia and Japan. Among the other places

where Ghanaians studied but which were not attractive enough for them to integrate in were

the then socialists countries such as Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cuba. Not all

migrants managed to reach their intended destinations; in their attempt to cross over to the

Schengen states, for instance, many Ghanaians found themselves in transit countries such as

Libya, Morocco and Algeria.

The movement of that critical mass of professionals, skilled and unskilled labour from Ghana

has led to the country experiencing a brain drain, in particular from the early 1980s. There

have not been many studies to directly assess the economic losses to the country resulting

from the loss of human resources through migration. However, there have been studies to

suggest that in the process, benefits have been accrued by individuals, households and the

nation as a whole. Looking into the real estate market in Ghana, Karley (2009) found that

65% of customers of residential real estates were Ghanaians living abroad. Furthermore, the

proliferation of private and commercial vehicles on the streets of Ghana has been made

possible by the Ghanaians living in Western Europe, especially in Germany, the Netherlands,

Italy, France and Belgium. According to Addison (2005), migrant remittances have arguably

become a potential source of foreign exchange in magnitude exceeding the amount of

Overseas Development Aid (ODA) to Ghana. Remittance flows into the economy can be

measured firstly, by the Balance of Payment (BOP) estimates, secondly, by inferences from

the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) and thirdly, by transfers through banks or other

financial institutions in origin countries (Addison, 2005).

The successful conduct of the 2008 general elections that marked the second time that

political power shifted from one political party to another since the return to constitutional

rule in 1993, has established Ghana’s credentials as a model of democratic practice for

developing countries. The recognition of Ghana as a beacon of democratic governance on the

continent where the democratic gains of the 1990s appear to be receding, provides an

opportunity to attract considerable investments into all sectors of the economy (IMF, 2012).

2.2 CURRENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

In 2001, the political power in Ghana was transferred for the first time from the NDC to the

main opposition party NPP. The new government, in an attempt to fix the ailed economy at

the time, declared Ghana Heavily Indebted and Poor Country (HIPC), a terminology

coined by the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and the World Bank). The new status allowed

the money that would have otherwise gone into multilateral debt servicing to be retained in


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the country for development purposes. This gave Ghana some breathing space, however

short-lived, to re-organize its economy and to establish growth initiatives. During the period,

the country could not borrow money externally, yet Ghana gained a lot of favours from

bilateral creditors such as Canada, the United States and the Paris Club. The HIPC status

ended in 2004.

As part of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) of the mid-1980s, the Financial

Sector Adjustment Programme (FINSAP) was implemented. In 1988, there were only 10

banks in the country and all of them state-owned, fully or partially. The smooth

implementation of FINSAP brought about the introduction of private sector participation in

banking as well as strengthened the supervisory role of the Central Bank. In 2003, the Central

Bank introduced the Universal Banking License which allowed all universal banks to operate

in a composite manner. More private banks, especially from neighbouring Nigeria, were

licensed in 2005. Currently, there are 25 universal banks operating in Ghana, with only 3 of

them state-owned. The competition in the banking industry has made it possible for an

average worker in Ghana to access loans for his/her consumption-related expenditures or for

the acquisition of property. Most workers are now using mortgage financing to develop their

immovable properties. A wide array of schemes for car loans, furniture loans, and educational

loans, among others, are offered by the universal banks for regular income earners or

employees in the formal sector. Bank lending rates that hovered around 54% in the year

2000, have gradually been lowered to about 24% or less, depending on the type of loan and

the conditions thereof.

Apart from the universal banks, the banking Regulator has encouraged the establishment of

non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), such as Savings and Loans, Rural Banks and

microfinance institutions. The operations of the institutions that fall under this category are

less stringent than those of the universal banks. For instance, in securing loans, NBFIs may

accept forms of collateral other than immovable property, including guarantors, stock-in-

trade, vehicles, etc. Consequently, many traders in the informal sector prefer to deal with

these institutions as compared to universal banks. In addition, the Ghana Stock Exchange is

now very vibrant and highly regulated; it is, thus, an avenue for portfolio investments and

access to equity of large firms. Overall, the banking environment in Ghana has improved

considerably over the years, enabling businesses, and especially the import trade, to flourish.

For the first time in more than three decades, Ghana has been able to sustain single digit

inflation rates for 19 consecutive months. From reaching a peak of 20.7 % in June 2009,

inflation declined to 8.7 % as of December 2011. The low inflation has been driven by

relative stability in the food and non-food components of the consumer basket. For 2012, an

inflation rate of 8.2 % is being targeted (AEO, 2012). Moreover, on 15th

December 2010,

Ghana joined the league of oil producers. It is envisaged that in the next decade, the economy

will be transformed significantly with the proceeds from oil and gas as a result of proactive

legislation on oil and gas revenue. In August 2011, the Ghanaian Parliament approved

a USD 3 billion loan from the China Development Bank (CDB). This facility is the largest

ever secured by Ghana and will be used to finance the infrastructure gap identified in the


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National Development Strategy, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda

(GSGDA) (AEO, 2012).

Furthermore, Ghana is currently among the most promising economies in West Africa and on

the continent, and has recently been growing faster than the average of these two groupings

(AfDB, 2012). After a slowdown of economic activity in 2009, the economy picked up in

2010 and grew by 7.7% in real terms. In 2011, the real GDP is estimated to have increased

sharply by 13.6% (7.5% excluding oil), aided by oil revenues and strong export performance

of cocoa and gold, in terms of both, volume and prices. In 2009, Ghana was said to have

attained lower middle income status (World Bank, 2012) but the real target for 2015 is

reaching the level of middle income status.

The private sector in Ghana is the main employer and the primary generator of exports. The

government has been active in improving the country’s business environment and Ghana has

been ranked, at least twice, amongst the top 10 reformers globally by the World Bank’s

Doing Business team (AfDB, 2012). Table 1 depicts the GDP-related indicators for the 10

year period of 2002-2011.

Table 1. Ghana’s Economic Growth in a Ten Year Period (2002-2011)

Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 GDP (Billions) 5.3 6.2 7.6 8.9 10.7 20.4 24.6 28.5 26.2 31.3 GDP Growth (%)

4.5 5.2 5.6 5.9 6.4 5.7 8.4 4.1 7.7 13.6

GDP per Capita 306 370 420 495 920 1,086 1,226 1,090 1,319 1,590 Source: The World Bank, 2012

Table 1 shows that there has been an upward trend in Ghana’s economic growth since 2002,

even though the Table does not suggest contributing factors. In 2011, Ghana achieved an

impressive and unprecedented economic growth rate of 13.6% - the highest since the upward

trend of economic growth began in 2004 after Ghana came out of HIPC. The positive trends

suggested by these economic indicators make global players take the country more seriously.

Therefore, it is hardly surprising that many Ghanaian migrants who had denounced their

Ghanaian citizenship, have returned to Ghana to settle whilst others have applied for or taken

up dual citizenship so that they can reside and work in Ghana.

2.3 INTERVENTIONS FOR POVERTY REDUCTION

Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategies (GPRS I and II)

Since the ERP in the mid-80s, Ghana has continued to implement multilateral programmes in

one form or another. Poverty Reduction Strategies provide the basis for the World Bank and

IMF assistance as well as debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.

The GPRS was preceded by a series of plans which placed emphasis on poverty reduction

and human development. The first among these, the report titled “Making People Matter: A

Human Development Strategy for Ghana” (1991), was followed by the National


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Development Policy Framework I (1994), a twenty five year development perspective, and

Vision 2020: the Firststep (1995), a five year policy statement later developed into the First

Medium Term Development Plan 1996-2000 (GPRS, 2003). The post-2000 initiatives

include the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy I (2003-2005) and the Growth and Poverty

Reduction Strategy II (2006-2009). Under these strategic programmes, substantial progress

was made towards the realization of macroeconomic stability and the achievement of poverty

reduction goals.

The Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) represents comprehensive policies,

strategies, programmes, and projects to support growth and poverty reduction over a three-

year period (2002-2004). Overall, Poverty Reduction Strategies should be country-driven,

comprehensive, partnership-oriented, and participatory. The Government of Ghana, in an

attempt to create wealth by transforming the nature of the economy to achieve growth,

accelerated poverty reduction and protection of the vulnerable and the excluded within a

decentralized, democratic environment. This goal would be achieved by:

• Ensuring sound economic management for accelerated growth;

• Increasing production and promoting sustainable livelihoods;

• Direct support for human development and the provision of basic services;

• Providing special programmes in support of the vulnerable and excluded;

• Ensuring good governance and increased capacity of the public sector; and

• Active involvement of the private sector as the main engine of growth and

partner in nation-building.

The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) II targeted the economy to grow at

an annual rate of between 6% and 8% towards the realization of a middle income status by

2015. GPRS II is the medium term national strategy that guides Ghana’s efforts to reach the

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While GPRS I focused on macroeconomic

stability, production and gainful employment, human resource development and provision of

basic services, the vulnerable and the excluded, as well as good governance, GPRS II

emphasizes continued macroeconomic stability, human resource development, private sector

competitiveness, and good governance and civic responsibility.

Millennium Development Goals

The United Nations (UN) Millennium Declaration, adopted by the world’s leaders at the UN

Millennium Summit in 2000, captured the aspirations of the international community for the

new century (Ghana Millennium Development Goals, 2008). The MDGs aim to eradicate

extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality

and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS,

malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop global

partnerships for development. The UNDP is supporting and building the capacity of the

National Development Planning Commission in order to strengthen GPRS II as the national

framework to reach the MDGs and all national objectives.


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2.4 INFORMAL SECTOR

The private sector is expected to partner the government and other stakeholders in the

transformation of Ghana’s economy through modernized agriculture, and the exploitation and

processing of the country’s natural resource endowments. The key strategies for enhancing

the competitiveness of the private sector are: private sector development; good corporate

governance; development of viable and efficient micro, small and medium enterprises

(MSMEs); accelerated industrial development; development of the tourism industry; and

promotion of the creative industry.

Ghana’s private sector is dominated by a very large number of MSMEs, with approximately

90% of the companies employing less than 20 persons; and a few large multinational companies

(IMF, 2012). An estimated 54% of the labour force remains in informal economic activities

with only 11.5% employed in the formal sector. Of those in formal sector employment,

young people account for only 14% of regular wage earners. The young face significant

challenges in finding formal sector employment and are increasingly forced to rely on

economic opportunities that they create for themselves in the informal sector as self-

employed workers, domestic employees, apprentices or unpaid family workers (AEO, 2012).

2.5 BUSINESS CULTURE IN GHANA

2.5.1 The Concept of Family Business

It is noteworthy that, much as the socio-economic background might be a key factor in

assessing the success or otherwise of business operations in a country, the specific national

business system in place must also be taken into consideration. Culturally, Ghana, like most

West African countries, is a collectivist society (Hofstede, 1980). The concept of family in

Ghana goes beyond the standard nucleus family known in the West. Family in Ghana

includes the entire family tree of forefathers and it can easily be said that all dwellers of a

small settlement may be related in a way. Every ethnic group in the country believes in the

extended family system and this permeates all facets of life, including business systems.

A majority of businesses are thus family-owned and/or initially funded from family sources.

It is therefore common to find (extended) family members in employment of such firms;

examples include Ayrton Drugs, Mechanical Lloyd, and Vanguard Assurance, among others.

The challenges to the continuity of family businesses stem from the extended family system

and the cultural practice of matrilineal inheritance in most Akan ethnic groups. In matrilineal

practice, a man is succeeded by his sister’s son (nephew) rather than his offspring. Those

subscribing to such inheritance practices are thus advised to make testaments to explicitly

indicate the future leadership of the businesses they had set up.


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2.5.2 Business Networks

Persons attempting to do business in Ghana for the first time should expect slow public sector

delivery. While it might not be intentional, it is characteristic of many developing countries

and is sometimes due to unprofessional filing, volume of work, lack of professional staff,

favouritism, and corrupt practices. Arguably, one important cure for bureaucratic delays in

the Ghanaian public sector is social networking.

Ghanaians believe in networking and one needs to work hard to maintain networks or to be

introduced into them. Networks are built through associations such as old school mates,

social club memberships, religious and political affiliations, etc. Most networks are

strengthened through social encounters. For instance, in a typical Akan society, access to

important personalities is mostly gained informally at church, funerals, festivals, durbars or

marriage ceremonies. Such informal approaches are the most common means for one to gain

formal appointment or access to officialdom. People with wider networks are able to find

jobs or organize their businesses in a faster and cheaper manner since networks remove

bureaucratic hurdles and red tapes. Those without networks, however, have no choice but to

wait until the public sector machinery grinds slowly on their cases.

Bribery - a crime in Ghana - is commonly linked to corruption in the public sector. Both, the

party offering and the one receiving a bribe are liable and may be prosecuted by the Republic.

However, many business people without relevant networks nor the patience to wait attempt to

go around bureaucracy by influencing officials through bribery. Those using networks may

offer friendly gifts out of free will upon receiving a favour (in most cases, these are reversed

favours rather than monetary gifts). Bribes, by contrast, are demanded, offered or negotiated

before a favour ir rendered and often assume monetary forms so that they can be shared

across the chain. Bribery is mostly a short-term form of networking since the contact person

may be transferred and the replacement may not be corrupt.

Nevertheless, foreign investors and Ghanaians who have lived outside the country for longer

periods and have lost their networks are disadvantaged in this regard. They must build or rely

on other people’s networks initially or go into joint ventures with local practitioners.

However, some Ghanaians living abroad have used their churches and tribal/ethnic

associations in the diaspora as useful networks for maintaining constant ties in Ghana. Most

people have benefitted from these associations or church extensions and thus interact through

them with Ghanaians abroad as members belonging to the same organization. Information

gathering and business prospects have been derived from such interactions. Some migrants

have even started investments through trusted family members, church members, friends, and

caretakers before eventually coming back to Ghana to take over. Much depends on whether

and, if so, how regularly one keeps in touch with his/her network in Ghana.

2.5.3 Bargaining or Haggling

Retail business in Ghana is mostly informal, except for a few supermarkets and grocery

shops. The dominant pricing strategy in retail is reached through bargaining - a skill that must


25

be mastered by both the seller and the purchaser. It is, therefore, uncommon to find listed

prices in most retail shops. Even when prices are listed, shop owners may choose to accept

bargaining, especially in cases of bulk purchases. Many vendors gain marginal mark-ups on

their approved sales prices by bargaining for higher prices. The practice is very much in

accord with traditional Chinese business practices.

Bargaining is also used for services. For instance, a customer may bargain for the labour cost

of services rendered by artisans and even professionals. Skillful bargaining is part of

customer service. Bargaining is done in a relaxed and cheerful manner making the customer

feel more at home and convince him/her into believing that the seller is willing to help

him/her, even when this might not be the case. It is a skill that is easy to learn and that must

be used in the informal sector if one needs to survive in the market place.

2.5.4 Public Sector Procurement

Public sector supplies are a fairly lucrative and profitable business in Ghana. However, it has

to be pointed out that public sector purchases in Ghana are conducted within the framework

of the Procurement Law, 2003 (Act 663). Under the Act, purchasing organizations must

solicit for proposals from a minimum of three suppliers for assessment. Depending on the

type of product or the objective of the purchase, the buying entity is not obliged to select the

cheapest price quotation. However, regardless of the law, networking is still an important

factor in public sector supplies.

Suppliers have to understand the nuances of governmental and institutional purchases (NGOs

inclusive). Payment is not guaranteed upon supply and in some cases not even on the date

agreed in the contract. Suppliers must therefore be willing to wait or to “pull strings” at the

concerned Ministry in order to get paid. Moreover, requests for public sector supplies come

with short notices and tend to be urgent, hence suppliers need more capital as well as access

to bank credit in order to survive.

Supply activities also exist in the private sector and they are not regulated by the Public

Procurement Act. Private companies can thus arrange with any supplier of their choice under

any contractual terms. Once again, networking plays an important role in getting the

opportunity to supply products within the private sector. However, long term relationships are

not guaranteed by the network but rather by the quality of service and delivery consciousness.

2.6 INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Although Ghana is currently celebrated as a major reformer in sub-Saharan Africa,

admittedly, the country has weak institutions that need to be strengthened. Foreign investors

and Ghanaians who have international exposure or developed country experience are likely to

be frustrated by the slow pace and inefficiency of the public sector operations. This

notwithstanding, the Registrar General’s Department is the public sector organization that

registers business entities in Ghana. Businesses may be registered under one of the three legal

frameworks, namely, Registration of Business Name’s Act, 1962 (Act 151) for businesses


26

popularly known as Sole Proprietorship or Enterprises; Incorporated Private Partnerships Act,

1962 (Act 152) also known as Partnership; and Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179) for Limited

liability companies. Depending on the sector of interest, there may be the need to obtain

certain permits and licenses from other institutions and regulators. For instance, for the

production of water or agro-products, one may be required to obtain a permit from the Food

and Drugs Board (FDB) as well as the Factory Inspection Unit of the Ministry of Health. In

some cases, if environmental issues are conncerned, one will have to address the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with an impact assessment report. Employers in

both formal and informal sectors are mandated to register with the Social Security and

National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in order to pay social security for their staff. Registration

with the Ghana Revenue Authority and subsequent declaration of tax returns is also

mandatory for some forms of businesses.

Business support systems exist, despite being weak in operations. The National Board for

Small Scale Industry is the umbrella organization for all micro, small and medium

enterprises. It operates through its regional offices referred to as Business Advisory Centers

(BACs). BACs provide free of charge consultations to business operators. Other supporting

institutions include the Empretec Ghana Foundation and some NGOs. Concessional financial

support can be obtained from Export Development, Investment and Agricultural Funds,

Business Development Services, etc. The Ghana Export Promotion Authority provides export

advice to businesses interested in exporting.

2.7 CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS AGAINST VOLUNTARY RETURN

In addition to macroeconomic issues, there are also social reasons as to why most individuals

and families find it difficult to return that must be taken into account when formulating return

policies. Firstly, as discussed above, the typical Akan has pride and will not be willing to

expose his/her inadequacies in Ghana. He or she would rather struggle abroad. Hence,

Ghanaians tend to work harder when they are abroad than when they are in their home

country. Most of them thus expect to secure definitive employment or business prospects

before embarking on return home. Another consideration is the length of time the person in

question has spent outside Ghana. Those without the requisite documents and/or who have

never visited home and have lost touch with the state of affairs, their friends and even

extended family during their stay abroad will find it more difficult to reintegrate upon return.

As far as married couples are concerned, Ghanaian women living with their husbands in the

Western world have “protected” marriages because polygamy is not acceptable in these

cultures. Their sisters and mothers-in-law are also not there to interfere in their marriages as

they would in Ghana. Moreover, shared responsibilities and support in family life are

common in the Western world: men cook and help around the house while their wives are at

work. However, in Ghana, these are exclusively women’s roles and men who are willing to

undertake them are given names by their neighbours or the society at large. Women,

therefore, do more domestic chores while in Ghana than when abroad. Furthermore, women

empowerment in the Western cultures allows for consensus building in family affairs,


27

transparency in family finance and investments. Many couples have joint accounts with cards

in the custody of wives who get to know how family money is spent. This is not the case in

Ghana, where most men prefer to make decisions of which they inform their wives later.

Finally, once children start school in the Western world, parents tend to be reluctant to

abruptly change their environment. Especially when children are used to speaking a foreing

language such as German, Dutch, or French, the difficulties associated with bringing them

back home to start learning English can become a major reason why parents choose to

continue living abroad.

These and other factors have often resulted in marriage break-ups at the point of couples

planning to return home. Many women, having encouraged their husbands to take the lead to

ascertain they would have sustainable livelihood in Ghana or with the excuse of seeing their

children through a school year, have then never joined their husbands in Ghana. Some

Ghanaian men have host-country citizens as their wives who are not prepared to relocate. In

effect, the attractive socio-economic environment in Ghana and the willingness to go back

home notwithstanding, most individuals or families have been restrained from return by these

social issues.

2.8 SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN GHANA: IMPLICATIONS FOR

RETURNEES

The overview of the key socio-economic indicators and of the business environment provided

above should in itself be sufficient to convince anyone willing to return to and to settle in

Ghana to do so. For those who want to pursue small businesses, opportunities exist but one

has to strike when the iron is hot. For instance, those who managed to take advantage of the

loan boom era of 2004-2006, earned relatively large capitals that they are still holding on to.

It is hardly surprising that Ghana is gaining more and more attention as a successful lower

middle income country and that donors are using Ghanaian case studies to replicate economic

and social policies in other developing countries.

As a result of these factors, many Ghanaian emigrants, especially those who are getting old

and can no longer afford to do menial jobs, have increasingly seen the need to come back

home. The social dimensions that prevent migrants from taking the bold decisions to return

are part of the general “fear of the unknown” syndrome. The studies commissioned by IOM

should thus give them the necessary assurances. Ghana’s middle-income status and oil

revenues have provided the country with the fiscal space to seek non-concessional sources of

finance. The concept of Savannah Accelerated Development Agenda (SADA) will soon open

up the Northern part of Ghana to development. This, in the opinion of the Consultants, should

be a subject matter of future research aimed at assessing employment and business prospects

in Northern Ghana.

With a view to all of the above, the business gaps and opportunities identified as a result of

this research are presented in the following sections and detailed in the catalogue of business

plans as well as in the tables in the annex.


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3. ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR

RETURNEES

This section of the report is aimed at presenting existing business gaps and opportunities for

returnees in the five study regions: Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Western and Greater

Accra. These business gaps have been identified and analyzed taking into consideration the

current socio-economic situation in the different regions as revealed through surveys of small

businesses, interviews with BACs and microfinance institutions, as well as local resource

endowment and general demand patterns in the regions.

For the purposes of this study, business gaps are defined at two levels; the industry level and

the organizational level. At the industry level, business gaps are considered as unexplored or

under-explored sectors of the region’s economy that hold great potential for returnees. This

potential is measured by identifying the levels of demand for that sector’s services and

products in relation to the natural resource base of the region. At the organizational level,

business gaps are considered as opportunities for establishing businesses that capitalize on the

inability of existing businesses to meet certain levels of service delivery. Hence, the gaps

identified take into account both macro and micro level opportunities, thereby allowing room

for generalizations while also affording the opportunity for specific recommendations.

The analysis provided in this section is based on data gathered from the Business Advisory

Centers (BACs) of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Trade

Associations and observations made during visits to the study regions and towns. In addition,

secondary sources of data have also been explored to supplement the data gathered from the

field.

3.1 BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES IN ASHANTI

REGION

3.1.1 General Overview

The Ashanti region is centrally located in the middle belt of Ghana. It lies between longitudes

0.15W and 2.25W, and latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N and covers an area of 24,390 square

kilometers representing 10.2% of the land area of Ghana. With Kumasi as its capital and the

majority (51.3%) of its population living in urban areas, the region is currently the second

most urbanized in the country, after Greater Accra (87.7%). The growth of the mining

industry in Obuasi and the increase in commercial activities in Kumasi may in part account

for the relatively high urban population in the region. The population of the region is

concentrated in a few districts. The Kumasi metropolis alone accounts for nearly one-third of

the region’s population and has eighteen administrative districts, the highest number in the

country. It is made up of one Metropolitan Assembly (Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly) and

seventeen other District Assemblies.


29

The region has abundant food supplies, including plantain, maize, cassava, cocoyam, yam,

vegetables and other cereals and legumes. The industrial crops grown include cocoa, oil

palm, tobacco, bast fiber, cotton, citrus and cashew. The region is endowed with large

deposits of gold and bauxite. Other mineral deposits of economic value found in the region

include manganese, iron, silica, clay and limestone. Traces of copper, platinum, lithium, tin

arsenic and mica are also found. The four major economic activities that employ a total of 85

per cent of the region’s economically active population are agriculture (44.5%), wholesale

and retail trade (18.4%), manufacturing (12.2%) and community, social and personal services

(9.9%).

As one of the fastest growing regional economies in Ghana, the Ashanti region presents great

opportunities to returnees. Small businesses account for the majority of business operations

throughout the region. As the engine of growth in developing nations, SMEs fulfill a unique

role that cannot be performed by large corporations. In many cases, outputs of SMEs serve as

inputs for these large corporations, in addition to providing tailored solutions to niche

markets. In view of this, it has been observed that substantial numbers of small businesses

operating in the region notwithstanding, there are still businesses gaps that returnees could

sucessfully fill. However, in some cases, to enable returnees to fully harness these

opportunities, extra skill training may be necessary.

This section on business gaps identifies a profile of business opportunities for returnees based

on four themes: light manufacturing industry, agro-processing/agribusiness sector, services

and knowledge industry sectors.

Figure 1. Map of

Ashanti Region


30

3.1.2 Gaps and Opportunities

Light Manufacturing Industry

The light manufacturing industry covers all low

volume manufacturing activities including, for

instance, different forms of welding, aluminum

works, manufacturing of construction

components, printing, etc. Since these activities

result in low volume outputs, there is considerable

need for more businesses in the area to meet the

growing demand for such services/products in the region. Small businesses in this sector are

able to cover niche markets with innovative and export-worthy products. The involvement of

returnees with the necessary skills in light manufacturing in the Ashanti region will

contribute to the expansion of the sector, facilitate future development of the export market

(as returnees are likely to have export contacts in European countries) and, eventually, boost

the region’s economy.

Agro-Processing/Agribusiness Sector

Ghana’s economy has been primarily based on a thriving agricultural sector until recently,

when the latter was overtaken by services as the largest contributor to the country’s GDP.

Unfortunately, however, success in agricultural production has not been carried onto agro-

processing. The country in general and the Ashanti region in particular lacks capacity in the

area of agro-processing, value addition to agricultural produce and industrial food processing.

Hence the need to encourage entrepreneurs, including (potential) returnees, to consider

setting up businesses in this industry which is characterized by abundant raw materials

(cassava, palm kernel, tomatoes, coconut copra, mangoes, oranges, etc.) and low start-up

capital. The industry currently enjoys a good export market, however, with a little training on

packaging and improvement of quality standards both the export and the local market can be

significantly enlarged.

Services

Overall, the service sector has been growing steadily for the past few years and has overtaken

agriculture as the largest contributor to Ghana’s GDP. Changing lifestyle patterns, increase in

the number of families with two incomes, innovations etc., have resulted in an increasing

need for the provision of diverse services ranging from lifestyle support services (covering

food, retail, personal care and grooming, household services, etc.) to industrial services

(waste management, recycling, logistics and transport services) in the Ashanti region. These

services are a vital component of the region’s economy and, given the right advice and

resources, returnees can easily set up businesses to contribute to the further development of

the sector.


31

Knowledge Industry Sectors

The knowledge industry sectors are based on a thriving service economy and, with Ghana’s

current economic activity heavily influenced by services, there is evidence of a natural

progression towards a knowledge economy. The knowledge industry sectors include

technical/engineering disciplines, financial services, medical services, information

technology services, insurance and legal expertise, etc. Returnees with the necessary

education can consider setting up small businesses, practices and consultancies in these areas

offering specialized services to individual clients and organizations. Investment in such

businesses will help diversify the economy and create more higher level jobs in the Ashanti

region. While the region has a strong agricultural base, supporting the growth and retention of

the knowlwdge industry sectors is a priority for long term sustainable economic growth.

Opportunities in Ashanti Region

Existing business gaps and opportunities in diferent parts of the Ashanti region (according to

areas of activity) are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Business Opportunities in Ashanti Region (according to areas of activity)

Industry/Sector

Business Opportunity

City

Description

Light Manufacturing

Manufacturing of building and pavement blocks, bricks and other building components

Kumasi & Obuasi

Includes manufacturing of pavement blocks, construction blocks, bricks, concrete columns, etc. Construction industry has been expanding nationwide and the Ashanti region has recorded significant growth in the construction of both residential and commercial buildings. Hence the substantially sustained demand for such products.

Structural metal product manufacturing (manufacturing of metal gates and fabrications)

Kumasi, Obuasi & Mampong

Structural steel fabricating, prefabricated metal building manufacturing, architectural aluminium product manufacturing, metal roof and guttering manufacturing (except aluminium), other structural metal product manufacturing, as well as all kinds of welding.

Manufacturing of aluminium doors, windows and frames

Kumasi, Obuasi & Mampong

Includes manufacturing of aluminium doors and frames, aluminium paneling and office partitions, etc. There is a demand for such services by organizations, households and the construction industry.


32

Screen printing Kumasi Printing on T-shirts, custom clothing and different kinds of souvenirs. There is a high demand for such services by churches, schools and organizations, especially political parties during the election years.

Sandal manufacturing and leather works

Kumasi, Obuasi, Mampong & Konongo

Production of local sandals, shoes, belts and bags is becoming increasingly attractive as a result of the promotion of the local clothing/design industry as well as the government’s initiatives to encourage consumers to buy locally made goods.

Agro-Processing

Palm kernel processing Kumasi & Obuasi

Processing of palm oil from palm kernel. Despite the high demand, there is inadequate capacity for the processing of palm oil. Opportunities also exist for training entrepreneurs to improve the quality of the finished product.

Gari processing Kumasi, Obuasi & Mampong

Despite the high demand for gari - a staple food eaten by all Ghanaians, -and the abundance of cassava in the Ashanti region,the existing facilities for the processing of gari from cassava are inadequate.

Meat processing Kumasi Processing of meat into semi-processed states for the hospitality industry and the general public.

Services

Food and beverage services


Provision of food and beverage services, such as the preparation and serving of meals and the serving of alcoholic beverages to customers. This may or may not demand the use of a closed facility like a restaurant (can also be operated from an open space). Includes cafes, restaurants, takeaway food services, pubs, taverns, bars, clubs (hospitality).

Food retailing Kumasi, Obuasi, Mampong &

Supermarket and grocery stores, specialized food retailing (fruit, vegetables, meat products, etc.).


33

Konongo Store-based retailing Kumasi,

Obuasi, Mampong & Konongo

Includes the sale of household items, textile goods retailing, electrical and electronic goods retailing, hardware retailing, auto parts retailing, building and garden supplies retailing, clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, as well as drugs retailing (licensed chemist shops).

Services

Personal services (hairdressing and barbering shops)


Provision of hair grooming services for both males and females. The demand for such services is high throughout the Ashanti region.

Custom clothing services (tailoring and dressmaking)


Making/sewing of custom clothes for individuals and organizations. As foreign designer clothes are expensive, many individuals resort to dressmakers and tailors for custom clothes.

Event management Kumasi & Obuasi

Management of social and official events (weddings, funerals, birthday parties, product launches, etc.)

Non-store retailing and commission-based selling


Selling of second hand clothes, bakery products, textbooks and agro-chemicals.

Transport services Kumasi, Obuasi, Mampong & Konongo

Provision of passenger transport (taxi and trotro) and product distribution services.

Landscaping services Kumasi & Obuasi

Constructing landscapes, including landforming, grass lawns, garden planting and installation of sprinkler/drainage systems in conjunction with constructing landscapes.

Plumbing, piping and air-conditioning installation

Kumasi &Obuasi

Plumbing services, air conditioning, heating services and other building installation services.

Electrical services Kumasi & Obuasi

Installation of electrical wiring or fittings in buildings or other construction projects. Also includes fire and security alarm installation services.


34

Waste management services (waste collection)

Kumasi & Obuasi

Includes solid waste collection services and other waste collection services.

Waste management services (waste treatment, disposal and remediation services)

Kumasi & Obuasi

Includes waste treatment and disposal services and waste remediation and materials recovery services.

Knowledge Industry

IT services Kumasi & Obuasi

Provision and sales of IT equipment as well as consultancy in IT systems design (networking, application and web development, hardware repairs).

Professional, scientific and technical services

Kumasi & Obuasi

Scientific research services, architectural, engineering and technical services, legal and accounting services, advertising services, market research and statistical services, management and related consulting services, medical and veterinary services as well as other professional, scientific and technical services.

The businesses recommended to fill the existing gaps are listed below and expounded on in

the catalogue of business plans (see annex).

1. Vulcanizing business

2. Restaurant

3. Beauty products merchandizing

4. Agro-chemical retailing

5. Business centre

6. Construction materials merchandizing

7. Plumbing materials merchandizing

8. Hairdressing salon

9. Barbering shop

10. Metal works

11. Photo video production

12. Telephone call cards, phones &

accessories

13. Bread baking

14. Shoes and sandals manufacturing

15. IT equipment merchandizing

16. Electrical merchandizing

17. Dress making

18. Carpentry and furniture works

19. Auto mechanic shop

20. Aluminium works


35

3.2 BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES IN BRONG

AHAFO REGION


The Brong Ahafo region is the second largest region in Ghana with an area of 39,558 km2

which represents 16.6% of the country’s total land area. The region is located within

longitude 00 15’ E-3

0 W and latitude 8

0 45’ N-7

0 30’ S in the west central part of Ghana and

shares boundaries with five other regions, namely, the Northern region to the North, Ashanti

and Western regions to the South, the Volta region to the East and the Eastern region to the

South-East. It also has an international boundary with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to the

West. The Brong Ahafo region was created in April 1959 out of the Ashanti and the Northern

regions and has 22 administrative districts/municipalities, with Sunyani as the regional

capital. The region lies in the forest zone and is a major cocoa and timber producing area.

The urban population constitutes 37.4 per cent of the total population of the region. Sunyani,

Techiman and Berekum are the only districts with more than 50 per cent of their respective

populations living in urban settlements. 79.2 per cent of the region’s population are

economically active, two-thirds (66.4%) of whom are engaged in agriculture/forestry/hunting.

With the exception of the Sunyani municipality, agriculture is the major source of income for

households in all the districts.

The region has low purchasing power and its economic activities are concentrated in several

urban areas such as Sunyani (the regional capital), Techiman (known as the commercial

capital of the region), Berekum, Goaso, Bechem and Wenchi.

The socio-economic activities in the region are structured around agriculture, light industry,

commerce and services, with most of them being family businesses. Unfortunately, crop

farming in the region is mainly subsistence in nature and creates little employment. The

region also has a vibrant poultry and livestock industry. In the industry sector, there are

several large private companies such as ABTS Limited, Oti-Yeboah and Sons Limited, and

Ayum Company Limited, among others, which process lumber and veneer for export and are

located in Berekum, Sunyani and Mim, respectively. Also, Ghana Nuts Limited which

processes assorted types of nuts for export is located in Techiman. These companies could be

explored for formal employment opportunities, however, returnees may have to possess some

employable skills required.


36

Figure 2. Map of

Brong Ahafo Region


In line with the predominant socio-economic

activities in the Brong Ahafo region, the

business gaps have been categorized into four

thematic areas: agriculture (farming), agro-

processing, commerce and services.

Agriculture (Farming)

As Ghana’s economy has traditionally been agrarian, agriculture remains among the main

occupations in most of the ten administrative regions of the country and Brong Ahafo is no

exception. Most of the inhabitants in the region are farmers growing all kinds of crops.

However, most of the agricultural activities are subsistence in nature. Hardly do these farmers

engage in commercial farming that could benefit the national economy. Despite the

availability of vast fertile land in the region, its utilization is low. Thus, returnees with an

expressed interest in farming could be assisted with technical, logistic and financial support

to go into agriculture. Crops such as plantain, cocoyam, and yam do well in the region and

are in high demand in Ghana as they serve as staple food for most households. Neat

Company Limited and other companies use them as raw materials for their operations. Fruit

such as pineapple and vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and cucumber are also in high

demand across the country due primarily to growing health consciousness among Ghanaians.

At the moment, the demand for these vegetables exceeds the supply.

Agro-processing

Despite the abundance of foodstuffs such as plantain, yam, cocoyam, and cassava, there is

only one commercial agro-processing plant (that processes cassava) in the region, at Chiraa


37

near the Sunyani municipality. Lack of mills is undermining crop farming in the region as

farmers who are unable to get markets for their produce are discouraged from farming. More

milling plants are needed: milling of foodstuffs into finished products will not only curtail

post-harvest losses but will also promote food security in Ghana. Therefore, returnees with

the requisite skills and interest in agro-processing could be assisted to go into cassava and

plantain production. Those with interest but without the requisite skills could also be assisted

in this regard.

Commerce

Commerce thrives in Brong Ahafo, especially in Techiman, as a result of low

industrialization in the region. Demand for timber logs, cement, plumbing materials,

electrical gadgets, cosmetics, provisions, bamboo, auto spare parts, auto accessories, metals,

and agrochemicals is on the rise, partly due to changing lifestyles of the inhabitants in the

region. However, there are few large-scale merchandising businesses that deal in the above;

thus gaps exist which could be filled by returnees. Since most returnees have spent

considerable amount of time outside Ghana, their networks with producers/manufacturers of

some of these goods abroad can be exploited to secure imports at relatively low prices. This,

in turn, could provide them with a competitive advantage over the existing businesses in the

region.

Services

Income growth, changing life styles and increased literacy among Ghanaians have led to the

service sector overtaking agriculture as the highest contributor to the country’s GDP.

Services ranging from internet cafe, hairdressing, barbering, transport, communications,

education, business consultancy, distribution, packaging, photography and video production,

food vending and medical services to industrial services such as waste management have

become increasingly important in almost every part of the ten administrative regions of

Ghana. The state of delivery of these services in the cities visited by the contributors to this

report, however, reveals some gaps that could be filled by returnees given the necessary

technical, logistic and financial support. For instance, the quality of restaurant services needs

some patch-up which returnees can take advantage of. Packaging of processed gari in

attractive containers for distribution in other regions and, possibly, for export would also be a

promising venture, as the current practice of packaging gari into polythene bags make the

product unattractive to some customers.

Opportunities in the Brong Ahafo Region

The gaps identified above offer some opportunities for returnees to go into business. Existing

business opportunities in different parts of the Brong Ahafo region (according to areas of

activity) are presented in Table 3.


38

Table 3. Business Opportunities in Brong Ahafo Region (according to areas of activity)

Industry/Sector

Business Opportunity

City Description

Agro-Processing

Plantain and cassava processing

Sunyani Milling of plantain and cassava that abound in Sunyani into flour for sale.

Cashew processing

Techiman Processing of cashew into finished product is likely to be profitable due to the abundance of cashew in the municipality.

Bamboo warehousing/processing

Sunyani Setting up a bamboo warehouse in Sunyani for supply to bamboo processing factories in the metropolis.

Services

Ultra-modern unisex salon

Sunyani Setting up a composite salon that serves as a barbering shop as well as a hairdressing salon and is equipped with modern barbering and hairdressing equipment.

One-stop fashion centre

Sunyani Setting up a one-stop fashion centre equipped with modern dressmaking equipment.

Modern restaurant

Sunyani Setting up a restaurant targeting the working class and the elite in the municipality. At the moment, there is no such restaurant in the municipality, as all the existing ones have adopted a mass marketing approach.

Washing bay cum drinking spot and restaurant

Berekum The existing washing bays in Brekum are either ordinary or substandard. Thus setting up a washing bay equipped with modern equipment and competent personnel, combined with a drinking spot and a restaurant catering for waiting drivers is likely to succeed.

Gas supply Berekum Identifying the working class and using tricycle vans to supply gas to their homes at a fee could be a profitable business.

Waste recycling Techiman There is a lot of waste in the municipality due to its commercial activities, which provides an opportunity for waste recycling entrepreneurs.

Agriculture Fish pond Yeji Construction of a modern fish pond to rear fish such as tilapia for supply to hotels and restaurants.

Commerce

Building materials retailing

Sunyani Construction is a major activity in the region, hence the opportunity for merchandizing of building materials.

Electrical Sunyani/ Construction is a major activity in the


39

merchandizing

Techiman region, hence the opportunity for merchandizing of electrical materials.

Auto parts merchandizing

Sunyani With many residents of the regional capital owning cars, auto parts retailing presents a potentially profitable business opportunity.

The businesses which returnees could take advantage of in the Brong Ahafo region given the

necessary technical, logistic and financial support are listed below and expounded on in the

catalogue of business plans (see annex):


2. Auto parts merchandizing



5. Business centre

6. Construction materials

merchandizing

7. Sachet water production

8. Drinking spot


10. Car cleaning services


12. Barbering shop

13. Restaurant services

14. Photo and video production


accessories

16. Bread baking


18. Dress making

19. Auto mechanic shop

20. Aluminium works

3.3 BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES IN THE

EASTERN REGION


The Eastern region is the sixth largest region in Ghana with an area of 19,323 square

kilometers, covering 8.1 per cent of the total land area of the country. The region shares

boundaries with the Volta and Greater Accra regions to the South, Ashanti region to the East,

Brong-Ahafo to the North and Central region to the West. With Koforidua as the regional

capital, it is the third most populous region of the country, after Ashanti and Greater Accra.

The major ethic group in the Eastern region is Akan, representing approximately 52.1% of

the total population of the region. The Akan ethic group (mostly the Akwapims and Kwahus)

predominates in 15 out of the 21 administrative districts and municipalities constituting from

68 to 80% of their respective populations. The minority ethnic groups in the region include

the Krobos.

Agriculture is predominant in the Eastern region and accounts for about 70% of the economic

activities, with crop and livestock production as the main agricultural activities in most rural

communities. There are also commercial farms producing pineapples, colanut, cocoa, coffee

and oil palm on a large-scale for export. Other economic activities undertaken in the region


40

include petty trading, inland fishing and mining. Canoe fishing is the main economic activity

in the towns and villages dotted along the Lake Volta.

The Eastern region boasts of industrial establishments located in its various towns. These

factories produce pharmaceutical products, lumber, poultry feeds, alcoholic beverages,

furniture, textiles and hardware. Diamond - a major foreign exchange earner for the country,

- is mined at Akwatia in the Birim South district. Diamond mining at Akwatia has attracted

many settlers to Oda, Akwatia and the surrounding villages, which, in turn, has contributed to

the rapid development of the area.

Figure 3. Map of Eastern

Region


In line with the socio-economic

characteristics of the Eastern region, business

gaps have been categorized into five thematic

areas: agriculture (farming), agro-processing,

light manufacturing, commerce, and services.

Agriculture

Although the economy of the Eastern region is mostly agrarian, apart from cocoa that is

produced in large quantities for commercial purposes, subsistence farming seems to be

predominant. Few farmers in the region are into large-scale commercial farming employing

modern and efficient methods. Thus, gaps exist for returnees who have the interest and

requisite skills to go into modern large-scale commercial crop farming. Moreover, the Youth

in Agriculture Programme, the initiative of the government of Ghana which has offered a

boost to agriculture, coupled with population growth, has increased the demand for

agricultural activities and inputs, which at the moment can be met only by a few suppliers,


41

such as SIDALCO and K.BADU Agrochemicals. Therefore, gaps exist in farming and

agricultural inputs, such as improved seeds and agrochemicals, including fertilizers,

pesticides and herbicides. Veterinary drugs, vaccines and chemicals, animal feed and feed

ingredients are also in high demand. Besides, the growing health consciousness among

Ghanaians has resulted in a growing demand for fruit (pineapple, orange) and vegetables

(cabbage, carrots, cucumber, etc.). Gaps also exist in the storage industry: inadequate and

inappropriate storage facilities result in high post-harvest losses and low returns for farmers

and processors and are thus significant constraints to agricultural production.

Agro-Processing

The abundance of agricultural products, coupled with changing people’s lifestyles, has

created the need for processing of agricultural products in the Eastern region. Due to the low

industrialization in the region, gaps exist for returnees to process agricultural products such as

cereals (maize, rice, millet); starchy crops (yam, cassava, sweet potato, plantain); legumes

(carrots, cabbage, garden eggs, tomato); fruit (pineapple, pawpaw, banana, mango); industrial

crops (rubber, sugarcane, cotton, oil palm, coconut, cocoa, coffee); livestock (cattle, pigs,

poultry, sheep) and fisheries (tuna, tilapia, catfish). Processing of cocoa beans into cocoa

products is also a gap which could be explored by returnees.

Commerce

Commerce thrives in the Eastern region, especially in Nkawkaw, as a result of low

industrialization. Demand for timber logs, cement, plumbing materials, electrical gadgets,

cosmetics, provisions, bamboo, auto spare parts, auto accessories, metals, agrochemicals,

clothes, dresses, shoes, etc. is on the rise also partly due to the changing lifestyles of the

inhabitants of the region. However, there are few large-scale merchandizing businesses that

deal in the above; hence the gaps which could be filled by returnees. Since most returnees

have spent considerable amounts of time outside Ghana, their networks with

producers/manufacturers of some of these goods abroad could be exploited to secure imports

at relatively low prices. This, in turn, could resut in a competitive edge over the existing

businesses in the region.

Services

Koforidua, the regional capital of the Eastern region, is known for fashion and ostentatious

lifestyle. Ladies of the municipality are often referred to as “Koforidua flowers”. The region

is also renowned for its glamorous annual Easter celebrations which attract tourists from all

walks of life. In view of this, services ranging from internet cafe, hairdressing, barbering,

transport, communication, education, business consultancy, distribution, packaging,

photography and video production, food vending, medical, event management, fashion

design, to industrial services such as waste management have become increasingly important

in the region. The state of delivery of these services in the cities visited by the contributors to

this report, however, reveals some gaps that could be filled by returnees given the necessary

technical, logistic and financial support. For instance, the quality of restaurant services needs

some improvement, which returnees could take advantage of. Supply of fashion related goods

could also be explored by returnees.


42

Light Manufacturing Industry

The desire of people, especially those belonging to the working class, to own houses and cars,

coupled with the growth in mining activities in the Eastern region, especially in the Akim

Oda and Akwatia areas, has resulted in growing demand for welding and aluminum works,

construction of machine components, etc. As the existing small businesses in the sector are

unable to meet this increasing demand, gaps exist which returnees with the requisite skills

could be assisted to fill.

Opportunities in the Eastern Region

The gaps identified above offer some business opportunities for returnees to explore. Existing

business opportunities in different parts of the Eastern region (according to areas of activity)

are presented in Table 4.

Table 4. Business Opportunities in the Eastern Region (according to areas of activity)

Industry/Sector Business

Opportunity

City Description

Services

Waste recycling

Koforidua There is a lot of waste in the municipality due to its commercial activities, which provides an opportunity for waste recycling entrepreneurs.

Ultra-modern unisex salon

Koforidua Setting up a composite salon that serves as a barbering shop as well as a hairdressing salon and is equipped with modern barbering and hairdressing equipment.

One-stop fashion centre

Koforidua Setting up a one-stop fashion centre equipped with modern dressmaking equipment.

Creche cum international school

Koforidua Returnees owning/renting suitable premises in Asokore can start a creche cum international school equipped with modern facilities and competent teachers since the existing schools in Koforidua Asokore are substandard.

Washing bay cum drinking spot and restaurant

Koforidua The washing bays in Koforidua are either ordinary or substandard. Thus setting up a washing bay equipped with modern equipment and competent personnel, combined with a drinking spot and a restaurant catering for waiting drivers is likely to succeed.

Gas supply Koforidua Identifying the working class and using tricycle vans to supply gas to their homes at a fee could be a profitable business.

Hire purchase business

Akim Oda With collaboration of employers where applicable, the sale of assorted goods to mining and other workers in and around Akim Oda on a hire purchase basis could be a profitable business. Monthly deductions should be done by employers


43

and paid into a designated account. One-stop supermarket

Akim Oda A supermarket that stocks all kinds of goods at relatively low prices.

Modern restaurant

Nkawkaw A number of white collar workers as well as tourists in the area would prefer to eat in a first-class restaurant. Hence there is an opportunity for a venture that would target not only the working class but also the elite. At the moment, there is no such restaurant in the municipality, as all the existing ones have adopted a mass marketing approach.

Light Manufacturing

Ceramic blocks and flower pots production

Nkawkaw A factory for the production of ceramic blocks and flower pots.

Agriculture Poultry and livestock rearing

Nkawkaw Nkawkaw is known for poultry rearing. However, the demand is not met by the existing capacity for production, which presents a business opportunity.

Agro Processing

Palm oil extraction

Koforidua Oil palm is abundant in the area, thus raw material is cheap. There is also an increasing demand for the produce.

Cassava processing

Koforidua/Nkawkaw

As a staple food, gari is in high demand thus there is an opportunity for the setting up of cassava processing units.

Commerce IT equipment merchandizing

Koforidua As the level of IT literacy increases, so does the general demand for IT products, which presents a business opportunity.

Cosmetic merchandizing

Koforidua With fashion consciousness on the rise, there is an opportunity for returnees to set up cosmetic merchandizing businesses, especially in view of the fact that there are a lot of fake products on the market.

Listed below and detailed in the catalogue of business plans (see annex) are some of the

businesses which returnees could pursue in the Eastern region given the necessary technical,

logistic and financial support:


2. Auto parts merchandizing


4. International school (primary and

JHS)


6. Business centre

7. Construction materials merchandizing

8. Movie and music centre

9. Sachet water production

10. Satellite dealership

11. Drinking spot


13. Car cleaning services

14. Barbering shop

15. Metal works


accessories

17. Bread baking


19. Aluminium works



44

3.4. BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES IN THE

WESTERN REGION


The Western region covers an area of 23,921 square kilometres, which is about 10 per cent of

Ghana’s total land surface. It is located in the South-Western part of Ghana, bordered by

Ivory Coast to the West, Central region to the East, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions to the

North and 192 km of the Atlantic Ocean coastline to the South. The southernmost part of

Ghana, Cape Three Points, near Busua, is in the Ahanta West district of the region. The

population distribution in the region is influenced by various factors, including vegetation,

type of economic activity, infrastructure, and cultural, political and administrative policies.

Shama-Ahanta East has the largest proportion (19.2%) of the population in the region. The

district capital, Sekondi, and its twin city Takoradi, have the infrastructure and the economic

influence to attract migrants and to retain local residents. Juabeso-Bia (12.7%), Wassa

Amenfi (12.2%) and Wassa West (12.1%) also account for a substantial proportion of the

regional population. These districts have arguably attracted migrants because of their rich

soils suitable for agriculture (Wassa Amenfi and Juabeso-Bia) and mining activities (Wassa

West).

The Western region is one of the most economically active regions of the country. Both

agriculture and industry feature prominently among the region’s economic activities.

Agriculture is the principal occupation engaging 58.1% of the population of the Western

region, and 50% or more of the economically active population in all its districts, except for

Wassa West (44.5%) and Shama-Ahanta East (19.2%). People in Shama-Ahanta East and

Wassa West are mainly engaged in production, transportation, sales and services. Agriculture

(excluding fishing) also remains the main industrial activity in the region, employing more

than half of workers in all districts except Jomoro (46.4%), Wassa West (45.8%) and Shama-

Ahanta East (14.5%).

More than two thirds of the economically active population in all the districts of the Western

region are self-employed with no employees, except for Shama-Ahanta East (50%). The

economically active population in Shama-Ahanta East consists mainly of employees who

work for either public or private employers. In all the districts, the private sector (both formal

and informal) provides employment to more than 80 per cent of the working population. In

general, male unemployment is higher than female unemployment. This is particularly so in

the urbanized Southern districts of Shama-Ahanta East and Wassa West, while the reverse is

the case in some of the Northern districts such as Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Sefwi-Wiawso,

Aowin-Suaman and Juabeso-Bia.

The Western region is endowed with considerable natural resources, which makes it of high

economic importance within the context of national development. Prominent among them are

the Bia Reserve, the Cape Three Points National Park, and the Ankasa/Nini Suhyien Forest

and Game Reserve. This explains not only why agriculture is the major occupation in the

region but also why self-employment makes up the majority of the region’s economic


45

activity. An overwhelming majority (81.5%) of the self-employed labour force in the region

is engaged in the private informal sector of commerce and agriculture. Nevertheless, some

existing business gaps and opportunities have been identified which voluntarily returnees

could exploit. These business gaps and opportunities have been presented under three

thematic areas, namely, agro-processing/agribusiness sector, services, and the knowledge

industry sectors.

Figure 4. Map of

Western Region


Agro-Processing/Agribusiness Sector

Voluntary returnees should be encouraged

to invest in agro processing in the Western

region because of the region’s rich

agricultural resources. Over a half of the

region’s economically active population is

engaged in agriculture. Major crops

cultivated include cocoa, maize, cassava,

plantain, cocoyam and oil palm. Cocoa is the predominant cash crop in the region,and its

productivity is very high. This, for instance, presents an opportunity for investment in cocoa

processing. Indeed, the introduction of agro-processing enterprises in the region would not

only be well supported by the abundance of agricultural produce but would also contribute to

further increasing the agricultural output and thus allow for taking advantage of the existing

local and external markets.


46

Services

Provision of services has become a powerful economic force in the region due to the influx of

people from within and outside the country. The mining sector and the Jubilee Oil fields are

the main contributing factors to this trend. The services in high demand include logistics and

transport, hospitality, food, retail, health, financial services, etc. An investment in this area

would go a long way to create wealth for the investor as well as to further generate

employment. It is therefore recommended that returnees are guided to invest in the service

sector.

Knowledge Industry Sectors

Ghana’s knowledge industry is being led by ICT. The government of Ghana has consistently

pursued policies aimed at making ICT the driver of national development. The most

significant policies are the ICT for Accelerated Development as well as the One Laptop per

Child initiative. The government has also created the infrastructure to facilitate greater use of

fibre optics and broadband, allowing Ghanaians to benefit from lower costs. These

developments present a unique opportunity for returnees to take advantage of the favourable

conditions created and to invest in this area of the region’s economy.

Opportunities in the Western Region

The gaps identified above offer some business opportunities for returnees to explore. Existing

business opportunities in different parts of the Western region (according to areas of activity)

are presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Business Opportunities in the Western Region (according to areas of activity)


Opportunity

City Description

Services

Waste recycling Takoradi Collecting and supplying plastic bags to major recycling institutions.

Restaurant Takoradi Most of the restaurants in the area are substandard and others only serve specific food. Thus a restaurant offering a wide selection of high quality meals is likely to succeed.

Boutique Takoradi A well stocked designer boutique is likely to attract many customers in Takoradi as most of the existing boutiques sell substandard clothes.

Auto diagnostics Takoradi The use of specialised software and personal computer to diagnose and service vehicles.

Transport Sefwi Wiawso

Passenger transport would be a lucrative business in the Sefwi Wiawso district.

Pharmacy Sefwi Wiawso

As there is no pharmacy in the district, returnees may consider setting up one.


47

Clean food joint Sefwi Wiawso

Returnees may take advantage of the availability of food stuffs in the district to set up a neat food joint at Sefwi Wiawso. Most of the eating places in the area are substandard.

Agro chemicals retailing

Sefwi Wiawso

Involves the selling of agro chemicals to the large number of farmers in the district.

Modern private international school

Sefwi Wiawso

Most parents in the area send their children to school in Kumasi because of the low standard of schools in the district. Thus if a modern international school with first class facilities was set up, a lot of parents would be attracted to enroll their children there.

Merchandizing (building materials)

Tarkwa Selling of building materials such as shovels, trowels, cement, iron rods, nails, etc.

Auto diagnostics Tarkwa The use of specialised software and personal computer to diagnose and service vehicles.

Merchandizing (sale of mobile phones)

Tarkwa Residents of Tarkwa often complain about the durability of their mobile phones. Returnees could set up a mobile phone shop and source original products from reliable phone companies to gain a large share of the local market.

Merchandizing (sachet water retailing)

Tarkwa Returnees could team up with sachet water manufacturers and distribute their produce in Tarkwa.

Well-equipped hair dressing salon

Tarkwa The existing hair dressing salons in Tarkwa are of a very low standard. Thus returnees can set up a modern hair dressing salon with all the necessary equipment to gain a large share of the local market.

Modern private international school

Bibiani Most parents in the area send their children to school in Kumasi because of the low standard of schools in the district. Thus if a modern international school with first class facilities was set up, a lot of parents would be attracted to enroll their children there.

Agro chemicals retailing

Bibiani This involves the selling of agro chemicals to the large number of farmers in the district.

Well-stocked supermarket

Bibiani A supermarket that sells a wide variety of products in demand.

Agro-Processing

Food processing (shito)

Takoradi Returnees may take advantage of the availability of fish in Takoradi to manufacture and sell shito in the metropolis.

Fish processing Takoradi Processing of fish for storage and transportation purposes.


48

Cassava processing

Sefwi Wiawso

Processing of cassava into gari and chips.

Processing of cocoa pods into soap

Sefwi Wiawso

The husk of cocoa can be used for soap (alata soap) making.

Palm oil extraction

Bibiani Extraction of palm oil from palm fruit.

Light Manufacturing

Bamboo and cane handicraft

Sefwi Wiawso

Involves the use of bamboo and cane for the manufacturing of various products such as chairs, tables, etc.

Agriculture

Grasscutter rearing

Sefwi Wiawso

As recently the demand for grasscutter meat has been considerably increasing, grasscutter rearing presents a promising business opportunity for returnees.

Knowledge Sector

Research units and consultancies

Takoradi With the discovery of oil in the Western region, several organizations have been looking into ways of taking advantage of the related opportunities. This has resulted in a high demand for expert advice in diverse areas such as law, HR, engineering, architecture and management.

Listed below and detailed in the catalogue of business plans (see annex) are some of the

businesses which returnees could take advantage of in the Western region given the necessary

technical, logistic and financial support:

1. Restaurant


accessories

3. Supermarket

4. Chemical retailing (pharmacy)


6. International school (primary and

JHS)

7. IT equipment merchandizing

8. Laundry services

9. Cassava processing

10. Cleaning services

11. Cultivation of palm fruit (farming)

12. Poultry and livestock rearing

13. Palm oil extraction

14. Handicraft

15. Timber merchandizing

16. Clearing agency


18. Hiring of farming inputs

19. Business centre

20. Carpentry and furniture works


49

3.5. BUSINESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES IN THE

GREATER ACCRA REGION


Greater Accra is the smallest region of the country and is home to Accra, the capital of

Ghana. The region covers 3245 square kilometers, which is 1.4% of the total land surface of

Ghana. The region has a coastal savannah, some forest area towards the Eastern region, and

the beautiful coastline in the rural parts. There are ten Metropolitan, Municipal and District

Assemblies in the region, namely, the Accra metropolitan, Adenta municipal, Ashaiman

municipal, Dangme-East district, Dangme-West district, Ga-East municipal, Ga-West

municipal, Ledzekulu-krowor municipal, Tema metropolitan and Ga-South municipal. The

Akan, Ga-Adamgbe and Ewe are the major ethnic groups, whereas the Gas form the largest

sub-ethnic group in the region.

Greater Accra is a major centre of marketing, finance, insurance, transportation and tourism.

As typical of an urban economy, the service sector is the largest, employing about 531,670

people across the region, the majority of them absorbed by the informal service sub-sector.

Overall, the private informal sector employs 6 out of every 10 economically active persons,

and plays the leading role in the region’s economy. Moreover, with over 350 major industrial

establishments, Greater Accra is the most industrialised region in Ghana contributing to over

10% to the country’s GDP. The two major industrial activities in the region are wholesale and

retail trade (30.4%) and manufacturing (16.7%). Agriculture, fishing and forestry, the

predominant industry in the country, comes as the third major industry in Greater Accra,

contributing to 7.9 percent of the region’s economy.

Although the economically active population of the region is estimated at over 1 million, the

daily influx of people from dormitory towns makes the actual figure higher. More than half of

the economically active population is self-employed with employees, while a third (32.6%) is

employees. A much larger proportion of females (62.6%) than males (41.6%) are self-

employed without employees, implying that males are 1.5 times more likely than females to

be employees.

Figure 5: Map of Greater Accra

Region


50


Services

The service sector is contributing

significantly towards the country’s GDP.

Service provision in the Greater Accra

region is one of the lucrative areas of

business. It is supported by the high number

of people in the region as well as the daily

influx of people from dormitory towns. All

areas of services including logistics and

transport, food, health, retail, financial

services, etc. are in high demand in the

region, especially in Accra.

Light Manufacturing

The industry has seen a major expansion in Greater Accra due to high demand for its

services, especially in the developing areas of the region. Light manufacturing includes

aluminium works, construction of machine components, handicrafts, etc. Although all forms

of light manufacturing exist in the region, the contributors to the report would particularly

recommend ventures such as craft making using coconut shell and basket weaving. Since the

existing businesses are not able to meet the demand for these products, returnees with the

requisite capital and skills could take advantage of this gap.

Agro Processing

Accra is not known for its agricultural production: being the capital city with a vibrant

market, it has most agricultural produce brought in from rural areas, such as Nsawam, the

populations of which do engage in agriculture. In the capital, there is a high demand for fully

processed and semi processed foods. There is also a large market for gari - a staple food in

Ghana. Palm oil production is another area with high demand but limited supply. These gaps

present opportunities for investment in the agro-processing industry.

Opportunities in the Greater Accra Region

The gaps identified above offer some opportunities for returnees to go into business. Existing

business opportunities in different parts of the Greater Accra region (according to areas of

activity) are presented in Table 6.


51

Table 6. Business Opportunities in the Greater Accra Region (according to areas of

activity)


Opportunity City Description

Services

Waste recycling Accra The city generates the highest amount of waste in the country. Waste management presents a business opportunity for returnees.

Cleaning services (residential and office cleaning)

Accra Most organizations and businesses in the city require cleaning agents to clean their offices and premises on a daily basis.

Supply of raw and intermediate materials to manufacturers

Accra Supply of raw materials to manufacturers presents a business opportunity for returnees.

Boutique Tema A well-stocked designer boutique in the city would be a promising business venture.

Cosmetology/hair dressing

Tema A cosmetology school alongside a hairdressing shop could also be set up for training students.

Merchandizing (sale of spare car parts)

Tema/ Dodowa

Accra is Ghana’s most active urban center with numerous cars, which presents good opportunities for merchandising of car parts.

Well-stocked supermarket

Ada Setting up a supermarket that offers a wide range of products at competitive prices.

Agro-Processing

Food processing (shito)

Accra/ Tema

Due to the abundance of fish and vegetables in the region, shito production presents a business opportunity for returnees.

Rice processing Dodowa Due to the existence of rice farmers, rice processing presents a business opportunity for returnees.

Fish processing Ada Processing fish for supply to Accra and Tema.

Light Manufacturing

Handicrafts (with coconut shell)

Dodowa As Accra abounds with tourists, local handicrafts are in high demand. This presents a business opportunity for returnees.

Crafts (basket weaving)

Ada As Accra abounds with tourists, local handicrafts are much sought after. There is also a demand for such goods among the local residents. This presents a business opportunity for returnees.


52

Some of the business ventures which returnees could pursue in the Greater Accra region

given the necessary technical, logistic and financial support are listed below and detailed in

the catalogue of business plans (see annex):

1. Metal works

2. Business centre

3. Clothes retail/ boutique

4. Cassava processing

5. Cleaning services

6. Distribution of food crops to hostels

7. Clearing agency


9. Hiring of farming inputs

10. Housing agency

11. IT support services

12. Sale of Kente cloths and wax prints

13. Scrap dealership

14. Travel agency

15. Handicraft

16. Restaurant

17. Laundry services

18. Supermarket

19. Dress making


accessories

4. LIST OF TEN BUSINESS INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTABLE IN

SMALLER TOWNS

Most of the businesses for which business plans have been developed and presented in this

report are also implementable in smaller towns in Ghana. In addition, it is noteworthy that, as

Ghana is an agrarian country, most business opportunities in its smaller towns are in the

farming sector. It is therefore recommended that returnees with the interest in farming are

encouraged and, whenever possible, also provided with the necessary training to pursue the

following ventures:

Snail farming

Grasscutter farming

Tilapia farming

Rabbit farming

Mushroom farming

The above initiatives are likely to succeed in every part of the country due to the high and

growing demand for their outputs, the trend explained primarily by the increasing health

consciousness among Ghanaians, especially the educated.

The following business opportunities could also be explored by returnees:

ICT training school

Internet café

Craft village

Sheabutter extraction

Groundnut extraction


53

5. EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPLY LINKAGES IN THE REGIONS This section of the report presents an overview of the employment and supply opportunities

identified in the study regions which returnees could take advantage of provided they have

the requisite skills and resources to do so.

5.1 OVERVIEW OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN GHANA

Overall, in Ghana, there are more employment opportunities in the informal sector than in the

formal one. Between 1991 and 2002, the informal sector, including agriculture, accounted for

83.6% of the total employment in Ghana. By 2005/2006, informal sector employment

reached 86.7%. Within the informal sector, most opportunities exist in agriculture.

Agriculture is the major occupation among Ghanaians, especially those living in rural areas.

According to the CIA World Fact book, in 2005, the agricultural sector accounted for an

estimated 56% of the labour force in Ghana. As of the end of 2011, the agricultural sector

contributed to about 28.30% of the country’s GDP (CIA World Fact book).

As an agrarian economy, Ghana has been a major exporter of cocoa and other non-traditional

commodities such as pineapple and pear. The sector, therefore, has considerable potential for

returnees to explore. Production of rice, maize, cassava, plantain, cocoyam, among others, is

a case in point. Moreover, recently, tilapia and grass cutter production has been on the

ascendency due to increasing demand for these products among Ghanaians. Returnees with

the requisite skills and motivation could thus explore employment opportunities in different

ventures in these areas.

The discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Western region has created many

employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry in Ghana. However, there is still a

shortage of oil and gas professionals in the country due to the fact that oil and gas

programmes have not been included in the curricula of most higher learning institutions.

Although several universities, such as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and

Technology, have recently launched such programmes, it will take some time for the gap

between the demand for and the supply of these professionals to be bridged. As a result, the

sector serves as a potential area of employment for returnees with training in oil and gas.

Opportunities for teaching exist in the Ghana Education Service. According to Education

Watch (2009), as of 2009, there were 42% trained teachers in kindergarten schools, 59% in

primary schools, and 76% in Junior High Schools (JHS). This suggests that returnees who are

trained teachers could find placements in various schools in Ghana.

At the tertiary level of education, there is a growing need for holders of Master of

Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees to meet the increasing demand

for lecturers in both public and private institutions in Ghana. The growth in demand for

holders of Mphil and PhD degrees is associated with the National Accreditation Board’s

(NAB) new policy that requires tertiary institutions to employ at least MPhil holders.


54

Generally, highly-skilled returnees are not likely to face difficulties in securing employment.

Demand for accountants, medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, architects,

and surveyors is high due to the large deficit created by the existing educational infrastructure

coupled with the increasing costs of training these professionals. Employment opportunities

also exist in rural banks, insurance and other microfinance institutions that are expanding

within the municipalities and districts. These professions, therefore, serve as avenues for

returnees to seek employment.

Specific employment opportunities, numbers of vacant positions, required minimum

qualifications and contact persons in different companies are listed in Table 10.

5.2 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGIONS

This section of the report provides an overview of existing employment opportunities in the

five regions studied: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Brong Ahafo and Western regions.

Greater Accra Region

Greater Accra is the capital of Ghana and hosts the headquarters of most companies operating

in the country. Although generally jobs in the formal sector are scarce and highly

competitive, the demand for professionals such as accountants, medical officers, nurses,

pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, architects, and surveyors is high in the capital. Therefore,

returnees who are professionals in these areas are likely to find jobs in either public or private

organizations with vacant positions available.

The socio-economic activities in Accra are dominated by services. Within the service sector,

most employment opportunities can be found in tertiary institutions. The growing demand for

tertiary education among Ghanaians, especially among the working class, has prompted the

establishment of many private university colleges in Accra and its surrounding towns. This,

in turn, has created a lot of employment opportunities in teaching and administration in the

Greater Accra region. However, returnees interested in seeking employment in these tertiary

institutions should possess secondary degrees or their equivalents in any field and several

years of experience for administrative jobs and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of

Philosophy (PhD) degrees for teaching jobs. As per the new policy of the National

Accreditation Board (NAB), returnees without an MPhil or a PhD are unlikely to get teaching

appointments in the various universities in Accra. Table 7 lists some universities that could

offer employment.


55

Table 7. Universities in the Greater Accra Region

Institution Location Contact details

Valley View University Mile 19, Accra-Dodowa Road

Tel: 233 (0) 307 011832

Web: www.vvu.edu.gh

Central University College B 578/4, Afadjato Street Tel: 233 (0) 028 954615,

233 (0) 302 313185 Ashesi University College No. 12, 2nd Norla Street,

Labone Tel: 233 (0) 302 610330,

Fax: 233 610340

Regent University College of Science and Technology

Japs House, Mataheko Tel: 233 (0) 302 9728501

Methodist University College of Ghana

Wesley Grammar School Premises, Dansoman

Tel: 233 (0) 302 312984

Pentecost University College Near Maranatha Bible College, Sowutuom

Tel: 233 (0) 302 4170578

University of Ghana Legon-Accra Tel: 233 (0) 302 500381

Ashanti Region

The economy of Ashanti region is dominated by small and medium-scale business

enterprises. Most of the companies operating in Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti

region, have their headquarters (where recruitment is done) in Accra. Thus, it can prove

difficult for one to find a job in the metropolis. However, recently, the service industry has

become an area with more and more employment opportunities. Jobs in the emerging private

university education industry are up for grabs provided one has the requisite qualifications

and experience.

The growing demand for university education among the residents of the region has

prompted the establishment of several private universities in the Kumasi metropolis. The

establishment of the Christian Service University College, Garden City University College,

Ghana Baptist University College, Christ Apostolic University College and the Institute of

Distance Learning of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, for instance,

has created numerous employment opportunities in teaching and administration. However,

returnees who would like to seek employment in these tertiary institutions should possess

secondary degrees or their equivalents in any field and several years of experience for

administrative jobs and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees

for teaching jobs. As per the new policy of the National Accreditation Board (NAB),

returnees without an MPhil or a PhD are unlikely to get teaching appointments in the various

universities in the Ashanti region. Table 8 provides a list of universities and polytechnic

institutions that seek MPhil and PhD holders.

http://www.ghanaschoolsonline.com/intermediate/pu.cfm?levelID=8&CFID=26266639&CFTOKEN=48371845





http://www.ghanaschoolsonline.com/intermediate/school_profile.cfm?levelID=8&schID=849


56

Table 8. Universities in Ashanti Region


Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ayigya Tel: 233 (0) 322 060331

Christ Apostolic University College

Kwadaso, Kumasi Tel: 233 (0) 322 099484

Christian Service University College

Odeneho-Kwadaso Tel: 233 (0) 322 028781, 233 (0) 244 220361

Garden City University College

Kenyasi Tel: 233 (0) 322 073927

Ghana Telecom University College

Ahodwo Tel: 233 (0) 322191197

Ghana Baptist Univeristy College

Asem Tel: 233 (0) 322080195

Eastern Region

The economy of Eastern region is dominated by small and medium-scale business

enterprises. Most of the companies operating in Koforidua, the capital city of the Eastern

region, have their headquarters (where recruitment is done) in Accra. Thus, it might prove

difficult for one to find a job in the metropolis. However, recently, the service industry has

become an area with more and more employment opportunities. Jobs in the emerging private

university education industry are up for grabs provided one has the requisite qualifications

and experience.

The growing demand for university education among the residents of the region has resulted

in the establishment of several private universities in the Koforidua metropolis. This has

created a lot of employment opportunities in teaching and administration in the region.

However, returnees who would like to seek employment in these tertiary institutions should

possess secondary degrees or their equivalents in any field and several years of experience for

administrative jobs and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for

teaching jobs. As per the new policy of the National Accreditation Board (NAB), returnees

without an MPhil or a PhD are not likely to get teaching appointments in the various

universities in the Eastern region. Table 9 presents a list of universities and polytechnic

institutions in the Eastern region where formal employment could be sought by returnees.

Specific employment opportunities in the region are found in Table 9.


57

Table 9. Private Universities and Polytechnic in the Eastern Region


Institute of Distance Learning

of Kwame Nkrumah University

of Science and Technology

Koforidua Tel: 233 (0) 322 060331

All Nations University College Koforidua Tel: 081 21587

Fax: 081 26526

Web:

www.allnationsuniversity.org

Presbyterian University College Abetifi-Kwahu Tel: 233 (0) 342 030037

233 (0) 202 277202

233 (0) 202 277204

233 (0) 202 277209

Fax: 233 (0) 342 030038

E-mail:

[email protected]

Web:

www.presbyuniversity.edu.gh

Koforidua Polytechnic Koforidua Tel: 233 (0) 342 022890

Brong Ahafo Region

The socio-economic activities in the region are centred around agriculture, light

manufacturing industry, commerce and services, most of them being family businesses. The

region also has a vibrant poultry and livestock industry. However, crop farming in the region

is mainly subsistence in nature and creates little employment, whereas most of the poultry

and livestock farms are located in remote rural areas thereby making them unattractive for

urban dwellers seeking employment. In the industry sector, there are several large private

companies such as ABTS Limited, Oti-Yeboah and Sons Limited, and Ayum Company

Limited, among others, which process lumber and veneer for export and are located in

Berekum, Sunyani and Mim, respectively. Also, Ghana Nuts Limited which processes

assorted types of nuts for export is located in Techiman. These four major companies

together have approximately 5,000 employees, most of them unskilled. Nevertheless, these

firms offer some employment opportunities for mechanical engineers as well as logistics and

total quality management specialists. Applicants for these vacancies must have at least an

HND (preferably, a Master’s degree), coupled with adequate experience in the industry,

especially from advanced countries. Moreover, technical employment opportunities exist for

operators of heavy and sophisticated equipment such as band mills, slicers, lumber stackers,

forklifts, timber jacks; D8 and D9 caterpillars, etc. In the services and commerce sector,

major employers in the region include Sam Bennett Group of Companies, a conglomerate

comprising Eusbett Hotel, Sam Bennett Hard Wares shop, and a Preparatory School, as well

as Joe-kona Company Limited, and Tycos Limited.


58

Most employment opportunities in the service sector can currently be found in tertiary

education. The Government of Ghana has recently established a new university in Sunyani,

the University of Energy and Natural Resources, which is in the process of recruiting staff at

all levels. Opportunities thus exist for HND holders through to PhD holders to fill vacancies

in academic and administrative positions. The Institute of Distance Learning of KNUST also

has a Centre in Sunyani and every semester recruits lecturers to teach various courses at the

undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Job opportunities in tertiary level education exist in

two other private universities in Sunyani, namely, Catholic University and Ideas University

College. There is also a Polytechnic in Sunyani which offers a wide array of courses in

Business, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Science and Engineering. Valley View

University has established a campus in Techiman and there are Colleges of Education in

Berekum, Bechem, and Atebubu. For teaching positions, all these institutions require a

minimum of Master’s degree (preferably, MPhil) in relevant subject areas. In the case of

these institutions, accommodation for employees is either provided or paid for. Voluntary

returnees who possess postgraduate certificates can therefore conveniently settle and re-

integrate easily in such academic communities.

It is also noteworthy that among the major advantages of the proliferation of tertiary

institutions in a geographical area is the emergence in and around such institutions of small

businesses such as food vending services, internet cafés, business centres, and taxi services.

Employment opportunities in such ventures could also be explored by returnees to the region.

Specific employment and supply opportunities in region are presented in Tables 10 and 11.

Western Region

The socio-economic activities in the Western region are centred around agriculture and

fishing, especially in the cities and towns along the coast. The region is the leading producer

of cocoa in Ghana. It is also renowned for its minerals such as manganese. The recent

discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the region has opened job opportunities in the oil

and gas sector as well as other sectors such as hospitality, health, education and food and

beverage. Returnees with qualifications in petrochemical engineering, medicine, nursing,

hospitality and food and beverage could explore these opportunities.

Employment opportunities also exist in the education sector for returnees with the requisite

skills and motivation. Specifically, returnees with MPhil and PhD degrees can seek

employment in the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, and Takoradi Polytechnic.

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61

Situation with lower-skilled jobs

The focus in this section of the report on employment opportunities in large companies and on

positions requiring relatively high qualifications is not deliberate. Despite all the efforts put by the

researchers into identifying as many positions not requiring high educational qualifications and

experience as possible, such opportunities have proved to be very limited, if not altogether non-

existent.

Management of the organizations and companies interviewed noted that, generally, vacancies in

lower-skilled positions do not even come to their attention: they are very recurrent and are thus

mostly filled by foremen and line managers. Moreover, whereas vacancies for high-skilled jobs

tend to be advertised and can thus be left unfilled for months, lower-skilled positions happen to be

part of the operational core and are routinely filled without advertising. In some cases, such

vacancies are filled the same day: for instance, a machine operator can be fired in the morning and

another one appointed instead of him/her by the close of the day. The snowball approach to

recruitment is the method commonly used in filling such vacancies.

5.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPLIES IN THE REGIONS

The procurement law is not applicable to the private sector. The sector is highly price-sensitive.

Players in the sector are prudent and pragmatic in their procurement activities: many of them

would not exclude buying from the open market if that could result in some savings. By contrast,

the public sector has little flexibility in procurement. In some cases, even despite being able to

offer a lower price, certain suppliers (for instance, not VAT registered companies) may not

qualify to bid. Consequently, especially for smaller suppliers, it is easier to deal with private

sector than with public sector clients.

The study has not revealed any specific supply opportunities in the large companies surveyed,

except for specialized spare parts and other inputs occasionally required by manufacturers in

emergency situations. However, such demand arises so spontaneously that it is difficult for

businesses to rely on a single supplier. Supply possibilities also exist in various districts when

different governmental projects are being implemented. For instance, opportunities for the

supply of sand, stones and lumber for construction abound. However, usually the demand is not

regular and payments can be delayed as contractors undertaking projects such as construction of

school blocks and roads usually rely on receiving government payments before they can proceed

with paying their suppliers.

In the Brong Ahafo region, Ghana Nuts Limited is the largest agro-processing company. It

receives tones of various types of nuts and legumes (mostly shea nuts, soya beans, groundnuts,

and sesame seeds) as supplies. Opportunities exist for farmers and middlemen interested in

supplying large volumes of these raw materials to Ghana Nuts Limited.

Moreover, opportunities exist in the hospitality industry for the supply of toiletries, bed sheets,

cutleries and raw materials such as foodstuffs. Onyinka Hotel in Koforidua Asokore in the New

Juaben Municipal Assembly is noteworthy in this regard.


62

As for the public sector, supply opportunities exist within government subvented organizations

such as hospitals, prisons, second cycle boarding schools and colleges of education that generally

need basic products such as firewood, maize, groundnuts, rice, cooking oil, among others, in large

quantities. Potential suppliers should be familiar with the public sector procurement processes

before accepting a supply contract. They must also register with relevant entities in advance so

that when a tender is opened or expression of interest announced, they can bid. Such suppliers

must possess valid income tax clearance certificate, be registered with the VAT Service and

willing to issue VAT receipts. Above all, they must be willing to give credit on their supplies for a

period of between 30 and 90 days or, in most cases, until funds are available.

Specific supply needs of a number of selected organizations, institutions and companies, together

with their contact details, are listed in Table 11.

Table 11. Selected Supply Opportunities in Ghana (by location)

Location

Organization/

Institution/ Company

Industry

Item

Specification

Contact Person

Sunyani

Sunyani Senior High School

Second cycle institution

Grains (local rice)

Bursar, SSHS, P.O. Box 156, Sunyani

Ghana Prisons Service

Security services

Grains (maize) Regional Commander, Ghana Prisons Service, Sunyani

Regional Hospital, B/A Sunyani

Health services Edible oil (palm oil)

Procurement Manager, Regional Hospital, Sunyani

Sunyani Polytechnic

Tertiary education

Office supplies (A4 sheets)

Procurement Director, Sunyani Polytechnic, Sunyani

Eusbett Hotel Ltd. Hospitality Eggs Restaurant Manager, Eusbett Hotel Ltd.

Ghana Airport Company

Transport Cleaning services (sweeping and hoovering)

Regional Manager,

Ghana Airport

Company Ltd., Sunyani

Techiman

Ghana Nuts Ltd. Agro-processing

Grease, sesame seeds

General Manager, Ghana Nuts Ltd., Techiman

Premier Palace Hotel

Hospitality Fresh vegetables

Hotel Manager, Premier Palace Hotel, Techiman

Berekum Berekum College of Education

Tertiary education

Firewood Domestic Bursar, BCoE, Berekum

Koforidua Onyinka Hotel Hospitality Mosquito detergents, towels, bed sheets, blankets

Owner Tel: 233(0)3420020044

NBA International School

Educational institution

Rice, biscuits and other food items for pupils

Owner, Tel: 233(0)273 677995/ 543 974949


63

Accra Ghana Cylinder Company Ltd.

Manufacturing Metals General Manager Tel: 233(0)302 811720

Nkulenu Industries Food processing Palm nuts, orange, pineapple

General Manager, Tel: 233(0)302 500923

B. SECTION TWO: AVAILABLE SOCIAL STRUCTURES IN

GHANA

1. OVERVIEW OF GHANA’S POLICY IN THE FIELD OF READMISSION,

RECEPTION AND REINTEGRATION OF RETURNING NATIONALS

1.1 READMISSION, RECEPTION AND REINTEGRATION POLICY IN GHANA

Ghanaian migrants can be found in more than 33 countries around the globe (IOM, 2009).

According to 2008 estimates, Ghana is one of the ten countries in the world that have in recent

times produced, and still continue producing, the so-called ‘new diaspora’. Different estimates

exist as to the size of the Ghanaian population living abroad. 189,461 Ghanaians were residing in

the OECD countries in 2006 (OECD Migration Database, 2006, as cited in IOM, 2009).

According to the information gathered from various embassies in Ghana (IOM, 2009),

approximately 461,549 Ghanaians live in Europe and North America, with 20,636 residing in

Germany (2004) and 12,196 in the Netherlands (2007).6

While every year many Ghanaians leave the country, significant numbers of them also return,

either temporarily or permanently, voluntarily or involuntarily. During their stay abroad,

Ghanaians are exposed to some aspects of life and standards different to those that they had been

used to in Ghana and thus often find themselves in ‘heaven and hell’ situations. The perceived

‘heaven’ of a greener pasture sometimes turns out to be an illusion when one has to face the

realities of life in the Western world. Many, especially the semi-literate and the low skilled,

become unemployed and have no family support that they could rely on in their home country.

Others, including high school or even university graduates, have to engage in “any work”7 to earn

a living, which affects their self-esteem, and can also result in physical and/or medical conditions.

The situation of irregular migrants is particularly difficult. Due to their irregular status, usually

also coupled with inability to afford health services, they have limited or no access to healthcare

in their countries of residence. Just like other migrants, they experience cultural shock and

acculturative stress, however, their situation is further exacerbated by the fact that they cannot

freely walk the streets of Europe or America, or work with their own identity. And if they get to

walk these streets or work, it is with fear that they might be detained at any time. Therefore, what

Ghanaian migrants experience abroad is not only socio-economic in nature but threatens their

6 Sources: www.cbc.nl (the Netherlands); Federal Statistical Office, 2004 (Germany).

7 Reference is made to jobs for labourers, such as floor and toilet cleaning, apple picking, working in deep freezers of

industries, which are usually taken up by students from Africa just to survive.

http://www.cbc.nl/


64

physical and psychological well-being. Should they eventually decide to return to Ghana, is the

country prepared to assist them reintegrate smoothly into their communities of origin? Are there

any policies and strategies for receiving these Ghanaian returnees and accommodating their

needs?

Research findings reveal that currently no specific migration policy on readmission, reception and

reintegration of returning nationals is in place in Ghana. However, reintegration of Ghanaian

returnees is included in the framework for the implementation of the National Population Policy.

The National Population Council Act of 1994 (Act 485) established the National Population

Council to give policy guidance in population management in the country.8 According to the

revised National Population Council Policy (Revised Edition, 1994), the government will adopt

measures and promote incentives and schemes which will facilitate the voluntary return of highly

skilled emigrants and their eventual reintegration into the national economy in order to promote

rapid socio-economic development.9

Nevertheless, efforts have been made to elaborate a migration policy which would also include

return. Under the Ministry of the Interior, the National Migration Policy is currently in the final

drafting stages. The Centre for Migration Studies has been contracted to draft the policy and the

International Organization for Migration is actively involved in the process. The draft National

Migration Policy is aimed at promoting the benefits and minimizing the costs of migration for the

purpose of contributing towards the economic, social and developmental interests and needs of

Ghana. In line with this overall goal, among the specific objectives of the policy will be

identifying and co-ordinating existing migration-related policies and legislations and addressing

identified gaps in them; developing programmes, strategies and interventions that will enhance the

potential of migration for socio-economic development; protecting the interests and rights of

citizens both within and outside the borders of Ghana; and proposing measures to set up the

appropriate legislative and institutional frameworks for comprehensive approach to migration

management. The National Migration Policy also aims at promoting a more comprehensive and

sustainable approach to the management of migration issues and instituting proactive measures to

address the critical needs of internally displaced persons in Ghana.10

Among the implementation

strategies to attain these objectives is the provision of enabling environment to enhance the return

of Ghanaian migrants and to facilitate their reintegration to enable them to contribute more to

Ghana’s development. This will be achieved through the promotion, mobilization and utilization

of their knowledge, skills and productive resources. Programmes will be undertaken to also

promote temporary mobility.

Since the attainment of independence in 1957, different governments of Ghana have expressed

their commitment towards reducing inequality and poverty in the Ghanaian society. The present

Government, through the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare (MESW), has put in place

the first draft of the Ghana National Social Protection Strategy (GH-GNSPS) to be

implemented by different ministries, departments, agencies and civil society organizations. Social

8 Ghana National Social Protection Strategy, January 2012 (Draft), p. 19.

9 Ghana National Population Policy, 1994 [Revised Edition, 1994], p. 56, Section 5.13.4.

10 National Migration Policy for Ghana (Third Draft submitted to the National Migration Unit, Ministry of the

Interior, Accra, by the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, 25th July, 2012).


65

protection is an umbrella concept covering a range of programmes and instruments such as ‘social

security’, ‘social insurance’, and/or ‘safety nets’ used to safeguard the welfare of the poor and the

vulnerable.11

A global conference on social protection organised and hosted by UNICEF (2006)

refers to social protection as:

a “set of transfers and services that help individuals and households confront risk and adversity

(including emergencies), and ensure a minimum standard of dignity and well-being throughout

the life-cycle”. It also adds that a concept of “social protection for children should focus on the

objectives of systemically protecting and ensuring the rights of all children and women, achieving

gender equality, and reducing child poverty (Ibid)”.12

The GH-GNSPS portrays social protection as integral to the overall development architecture of

Ghana, which is rooted in the human rights-driven philosophy of the 1992 Constitution. For

Ghana, this responsibility is enshrined in African Regional Conventions and Charters and

International Conventions and Charters of which the country is an active member.

A further impetus for Ghana, like for other emerging countries, to place to the issue of social

protection high on the national agenda was provided by the financial crisis of 2008. The crisis and

its repercussions called for a re-positioning in Ghana’s development thinking and practice. Led by

the United Nations (UN) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the idea of Social

Protection Floor emerged out of debates during the financial crisis of 2008. “Social Protection

Floor is particularly relevant for countries with weak social security cover hence no excuse for

Ghana not to embark on social protection because of the burden it would put on the national

budget” (G-NSPS, 2012 p.19). It is a necessary response to social inequality, economic crisis,

disease and related issues of vulnerability and exclusion (IADB 2000; Asian Development Bank

2001; ILO 2001; World Bank 2001).

By empowering people who are potentially productive yet currently excluded from economic

opportunities to be full participants in the society, social protection can serve as an engine for

economic growth and, therefore, an indispensable and effective development strategy for

achieving Ghana’s development goals as outlined in the GSGDA 2010-2013.13

A number of

policies and instruments for protecting the well-being of the citizenry by institutionalising the

principles and practices of social justice and upholding human dignity are already in place. Some

of these policies and instruments aimed at ensuring social protection through the protection of

rights and the mitigation of social risks are listed below:

a. Ghana Education Act, 2008 (Act 778);

b. Intestate Succession Law, 1985 (PNDC Law 111);

c. National Pension Act, 2008 (Act 766);

d. Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 1998 (Act 554);

e. Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732);

11

Department for International Development (DFID), for instance, defines social protection as interventions that

strengthen the capacity of the poor to protect their consumption and to support household investment in the assets

required to manage and overcome their situation (Ibid). 12

MESW (2012), Ghana National Social Protection Strategy (GNSPS), Draft, p. 17. 13

A medium-term national development policy framework.


66

f. Children’s Act,1998, (Act 560);

g. Child Rights Regulations, 2003 (L.I 1705);

h. Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (Act 653);

i. National Labour Law, 2003 (Act 651);

j. Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715);

k. Ghana National Ageing Policy, October 2010;

l. National HIV/AIDS Policy, 2002;

m. Adolescent and Reproductive Health Policy, 2000;

n. Gender and Children’s Policy, 2003;

o. Early Childhood Development Policy, 2004;

p. Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) I & II, 2002-2009;

q. Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA), 2010-2013.

The National Disaster Management Organisation Act, 1996 (Act 517) deserves special mention in

this regard. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is responsible for the

management of disasters and similar emergencies. However, it is also actively involved in

different social safety programmes, together with other institutions, such as the Ministry of Local

Government and Rural Development, the Social Welfare Department under the Ministry of

Employment and Social Welfare (coordinator), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning,

as well as traditional authorities, selected district leaders and Micro and Small Loan Centre (loans

for rural people). 14

Finally, it is noteworthy that, as a member state of the UN, in the development and

implementation of relevant policies, Ghana pays close attention to the international instruments

that regulate social protection, primarily the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948); the

UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights (1966).

1.2 SOCIAL STRUCTURES IN GHANA: IMPLICATIONS FOR RETURNEES

Even faced with challenges abroad which may eventually compel them to return to their

homeland, many Ghanaian migrants are uncertain about their fate upon return. As discussed

above, there is no specific policy on the readmission, reception and reintegration of Ghanaian

nationals returning from abroad despite the numerous attempts at empowering the vulnerable and

the excluded so that they can contribute to the nation’s economic development. In addition to the

1994 revised edition of the Population Council Policy and the Migration Policy being drafted,

general policies exist aimed at protecting the dignity of all citizenry, and so do interventions to

support the poorest. The vulnerable, the poor and their exclusion are themes that seem to run

through many of the social protection mechanisms none of which, however, focuses specifically

on returnees.

Observations made during the interviews with representatives from the Ministry of Employment

and Social Welfare and the National Disaster Management Organization indicate that the criteria

14

Interview with National Disaster Management Organization, Ghana, 14th

September, 2012.


67

for identifying the very poor or the beneficiaries of the various existing schemes are unlikely to be

favourable to Ghanaian returnees.15

However, “the increased attention to social protection by the

Government of Ghana, donors and other development partners is raising the profile of policy

action in aid of vulnerable and excluded groups”.16

It is important that, in the process, the focus is

not only on the poorest of the poor but rather on a wider range of Ghanaian nationals prone to

difficult circumstances, including returnees from abroad. Such an approach would help bring into

focus the destitute as well as the working poor, and even the non-poor who can be easily plunged

into poverty due to major shocks arising from adversity (as can be the case with returnees). 17

2. INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE

REINTEGRATION OF RETURNEES

2.1 LIST OF INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES THAT COULD ASSIST RETURNEES IN

FINDING A JOB AND INSTITUTIONS WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNEES

2.1.1 Governmental Institutions, Organizations and Agencies

Labour Department

The Labour Department is one of the main arms of the Ministry of Employment and Social

Welfare which offers labour related services in order to promote gainful employment

opportunities, develop human resources, protect workers and promote their welfare, and maintain

industrial peace. The department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of labour

and employment laws; it has also been mandated to certify and monitor the activities of all private

employment agencies. The department is located at the ministries in Accra with 64 public

employment centers that place job applicants in both formal and informal sectors spread over all

the ten regions of Ghana. The services provided by the department include registration of job

applicants and issuance of Labour Registration Certificate, placement of job applicants, vocational

and career guidance, and counseling for schools and job seekers.

The Labour Department is an active governmental institution that can assist returnees with job

placement. Usually, between 5,000 and 1,000 job seekers are placed per year. During the national

election year, as many as 15,000 Ghanaians could be placed.18

Returnees can register in any of the

centers in their region of residence at no cost.

15

Observation from interviews at the National Disaster Management Organization and at the Ministry of Employment

and Social Welfare, both 14th

August 2012. 16

GNSPS 2012, p. 23. 17

GNSPS 2012, p. 23. 18

National Migration Policy for Ghana (Third Draft submitted to the National Migration Unit, Ministry of the

Interior, Accra, by the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, 25th July, 2012).


68

National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP)

The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) is mandated to empower the youth

between the ages of 18 and 35 through job creation. It provides employment opportunities for the

unemployed youth of Ghana through the creation of employment modules to absorb, place and

exit the youth into mainstream employment through public-private partnerships. NYEP provides

employment through twenty modules within all sectors and industries. On average, NYEP

employs about 10% of registered youth, i.e. one hundred thousand (100,000) out of the one

million (1,000,000) registered Ghanaians. NYEP has offices in all ten administrative regions of

Ghana, and a hundred and ninety-six districts (196) across the country.

Youth can register at any of the District Assembly Offices across the country. One must register

for the module he/she wants to work with and must work in the district in which he/she is

recruited, thus returnees should be advised to register in the district within which they want to

work. No fee is charged for registering with NYEP or for accessing its services.

Each module has specific entry requirements and placement depends on available resources. The

NYEP programme also has a beneficiary exit plan: beneficiaries have to serve their tenure of two

years on the Programme and are then to be exited into a job. During the two year tenure,

beneficiaries are paid allowances rather than salaries. When necessary, beneficiaries are also

provided with some training in skills (depending on the type of job) before being absorbed by

NYEP.

Some of the modules offered within the framework of NYEP are as follows:

a) Youth in Trade and Vocations

b) Youth in Construction

c) Youth in Afforestation

d) Youth in Eco-Brigade

e) Youth in ICT

f) Youth in Mining/Oil Exploration

g) Youth in Security (Community Protection Assistants)

h) Community Education Teaching Assistant (CETA)

i) Health Extension Workers

j) Paid Internships and Industrial Attachments

In addition, recently NYEP has introduced new modules aimed at reducing the employment

deficit among the youth. Enrollment is free of charge and the length of training depends on the

module in question. As with the modules listed above, the youth enrolled in modules related to

agriculture, for example, are attached to an agric extension officer who provides them about one

week of orientation before they start working. The youth in community teaching receive four

weeks of training prior to the start of work. For the other modules, beneficiaries have to undergo

six months of training. The newly created modules are as follows:

a) Youth in Dress Making

b) Youth in Film-Acting


69

c) Youth in Bamboo Processing

d) Youth in Shea Butter Processing

e) Youth in Sachet Water Production

f) Youth in Mining

g) Youth in Grass Cutter Production

h) Youth in Road Repairs

i) Youth in Road Repairs

j) Youth in Construction

k) Youth in Paralegal Services

Department of People with Disability

Persons with disability constitute 10% of the Ghanaian population. The Department of People

with Disability has been created under the National Youth Employment Programme and offers

trade and vocational modules for persons with disability in order to provide them with appropriate

training in the areas of their choice.

Ministry of Trade and Industry

The Ministry of Trade and Industry effectively supports farmers engaged in the production of

exportable commodities. Should returnees identify an exportable commodity they could produce,

the Ministry could support them in terms of both equipment and training through the Export

Development Fund (EDF) that offers grants and the recoverable facility (zero interest loans).

2.1.2 Private Employment Agencies, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations

The table below lists private employment/recruitment agencies registered with the Labour

Department of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare of Ghana and in good standing as

of August 2012.19

Interviews with these recruitment agencies revealed that most of them are

located in the Greater Accra region and operate nationwide. These private employment agencies

can assist jobseekers – both, residents and returnees – who register with them. Registration can be

done either directly or online. The agencies help find jobs for their clients in all sectors of the

economy.

Intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and civil society organizations listed below and described

in more detail in section 6.3 can also be of assistance to returnees in job search:

- International Organization for Migration (IOM)

- Research and Counseling Foundation for African Migrants (RECFAM)

- International Initiative Programme (IIP)

- Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services (TRAGRIMAC)

19

Interview with the Labour Department, Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, August 27th

, 2012.

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73

3. VOCATIONAL TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND RE-

QUALIFICATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Generally, in Ghana, there are vocational training, professional education and re-qualification or

upgrading programmes accessible to all nationals, including returnees. The Ghana Education

Service – the governmental implementing body of the Ministry of Education – has been in

operation since 1972. The Service is tasked primarily with providing quality pre-tertiary level

education for all Ghanaians of school going age (6-15 years). The two main categories of

programmes offered are Grammer (regular programmes) and Technical and Vocational

programmes. Persons seeking to enroll into a school with regular arts and science programmes must

have passed their Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E.) with an aggregate of 6 to 30;

for the vocational and technical schools the entry requirement is an aggregate of 6 to 40. Returnees

interested in placement will have to complete a foreign students’ form which can be obtained at the

cost of GH¢30.00. Entry into vocational and technical programmes is generally competitive and,

therefore, requires an entry exam, especially for the sciences. An aptitude test is usually

conducted.20

The tertiary level saw an increase in entries of between 10%-100% over the period of 1995-2002.

The Ministry of Education has established 20 vocational training institutions throughout the

country, with at least two institutions in each region. The ICCES centres are vocational schools

open to anyone (typically between the ages of 14 and 24), that teach sought-after skills such as

masonry, electricals and dressmaking, as well as provide support to students in general areas such

as Maths, English and Health. The NVTI (National Vocational Training Institute) qualification

gained after three years enables graduates from ICCES to enter a polytechnic, find employment, or

start their own business. The list of ICCES and NVTI is provided in Table 13.

3.1 VOCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS

3.1.1 National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI)

The National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) is a governmental institution mandated to

coordinate nationwide all aspects of vocational training, including apprenticeship. NVTI aims at

improving the quality service delivery in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)

through simplification of processes, clarification of rules and procedures and provision of customer-

oriented and value-for-money public services.

NVTI has branches in all ten administrative regions of Ghana and provides two main services,

namely, Testing and Certification, and Training. It mostly conducts examinations of employees or

trainees upon request by organizations and awards certificates. The NVTI certificate is the highest

certificate for craftsmanship in the country. NVTI also carries out several training programmes

20

Interview with the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education, 22nd

August 2012.


74

under different modules. Its activities include basic skills training, running of upgrading courses,

informal apprenticeship, setting of standards, testing and certification in vocational, ICT and

secretarial skills nationwide. Service cost for each module is GHS 477.00 which covers tuition and

stationary; the cost of taking an examination is GHS 25.00. Trainings for a period of 2 to 4 years

and testing are available in the following areas:

Building skills

Automotive skills

Electrical skills

Mechanical skills

Dressmaking and tailoring skills

Catering and lodging skills

Craft skills

Agriculture skills

Printing skills

Miscellaneous skills

3.1.2 Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC)

The Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC) is a governmental institution that absorbs about

10% of Ghanaian returnees and is willing to train more returnees.21

OIC has been providing

professional counselling and employable skills training programmes to unskilled Ghanaians over

the past thirty-one years (since 1971). The institution’s target group is the underprivileged,

including but not limited to, early school exiters (JSS/SSS), the unemployed, youth, people affected

by or infected with HIV/AIDS, orphans, and unskilled persons.

The main programme areas covered by OIC are as follows:

General Electricals

Catering

Auto mechanics

Office skills/Computer studies

Plumbing

Textiles design

Graphic arts

Masonry

Carpentry

Ceramics

21

Interview with the Opportunity Industrialization Centre, Ghana, 20th

August 2012.


75

In addition to its regular training programmes, OIC also offers upgrading programmes for a training

period of six weeks to one year. Standard courses of between 6 months and 2 years are

recommended for returnees with some skills (as bridging courses). One key advantage of receiving

training with this institution is that it aims at closing the gap between theory and practice:

apprenticeships are included in all the programmes on offer.

OIC is located in four regions of Ghana, namely, Western region (Secondi Takoradi), Ashanti

region (Kumasi), Northern region (Tamale) and Greater Accra region (East Legon-Shiashie).

Ghanaians aged 16 and above are eligible for training. The main entry requirement is the ability to

read and write; however, illiterate persons can be linked up to off campus training in a form of

apprenticeship. The cost of training for a period of one to two years ranges between GHS 176.00

and GHS 590.00 (a minimum of GHS 176.00 for the first year and a maximum of GHS 590.00 by

the end of the entire 2 year programme). It is noteworthy that potential trainees who cannot afford

the costs are sometimes linked with different institutions for scholarships. Approximately 230

trainees graduate each year with an external certificate from NVTI. The average pass rate for all the

programmes is 50%.

Formal jobs are available for OIC graduates in both public and private sector; they can also opt for

self-employment. However, OIC does not provide assistance with linking its graduates to

employment. Therefore, for networking purposes, graduates could join associations such as Ghana

Electrical Contractors’ Associations and Plumbers Associations.

3.1.3 Accra Technical and Training Centre (ATTC)

The Accra Technical and Training Centre (ATTC) is a public training centre located in the Greater

Accra region. It provides training in the areas of Technical, Science, Electricals, Computing

System, Painting, Decoration, Industrial, and Construction.

3.1.4 List of Vocational Training Service Providers, both Public and Private

Table 13. Vocational Training Service Providers

Organization Services Eligibility criteria Cost Duration Certificate awarded

Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC), Ghana

-Skills upgrading programmes -Training programmes in 10 areas (see Section 3.1.2 above) -General Electricals

-Basic Education Certificate (BEC) or ability to read and write -English language test for applicants of office skills programme

GHS 176.00-590.00

-2 years -6 months to 1 year for skills upgrading

NVTI Grade II

NVTI -Trade test/examination

-Middle School Leaving Certificate

GHS 477.00 2-4 years NVTI Grade II


76

-Proficiency test/examination -Issuance of certificates -Training in different vocational modules

(MSLC), Junior Secondary School Certificate (JSSC), Basic Education Certificate (BEC) or its equivalent

ICCES

-Training in masonry, electricals and dressmaking, as well as support in general areas such as Maths, English and Health -Skills upgrading through various vocational modules

2 weeks – 3 years

NVTI qualification which will enable entry into polytechnic (after 3 years)

Intermediate Technology Transfer Unit (ITTU-GRATIS)

-Non-engineering income-generating activities such as food-processing, textiles and pottery

4. SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND NETWORKS THAT CAN ASSIST

WITH REINTEGRATION

Table 14. Social Service Providers

General Hospitals Psychiatric/Psychosocial/Social Facilities,

Other Social Service Providers, Centres,

Associations

Eastern Region

St Josephs’s Hospital

Box 40, Koforidua

Tel: 233 (0) 244 077756

National Association of Beauticians and

Hairdressers (NABH Ghana) SSNIT Complex, Ground floor, Shop No. 10/11

Box 1104, Koforidua

Tel: 233 (0) 34 203132

Dorkokrom Presbyterian Hospital

Box 22, Afram plains

Tel: 233 (0) 848 22037

Salvation Army Hospital

Box 10, Begoro

Tel: 020 8135503

Tel:0848-22037


77

Holy Family Hospital

Box 770, Nkawkaw

Tel: 0842 22081

Ashanti Region

Agogo Presbyterian Hospital

Box 27, Agogo, Ashanti/Akim

Tel: 051 812000

St Martin’s Hospital, Agroyesu

Box KS 8298, Kumasi

Tel: 051 32603

SDA Hospital, Asamang

Box 2, Asamang

St Peter’s Hospital

Box 31, Jaconu

Box 1352, Kumasi

Tel: 0565 220031-812220

St Luke Hospital, Kasei

Box 1352, Kumasi

Tel: 0565 22003

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

(General and Psychiatric Services)

Kumasi Metropolitan, Kumasi

Alliance Against Irregular Migration

(Association of returnees)

Adum - Kumasi

Tel: 0205 798096, 0247 155779, 0206 946412

Western Region

St John of God Hospital

Box 9, Sefwi-Asafo

Tel: 0392 22086

Effia-Kwanta Regional Hospital, Psychiatric

Unit

Effia-Kwanta

St Martin de Porres Hospital

Box 6, Eikwe via Axim

Tel: 031 30197

National Drinking Bars Operators Association

(NADBOA) Takoradi

Tel: 0244 202663

Catholic Hospital

Box 16, Asankrangwa

Tel: 0392 220226

Nagel Memorial SDA Hospital

c/o Box 073, Takoradi

Tel: 0244 950916

Central Region

Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital

Cape Coast Metropolitan

Labour Department Old Court, Dunkwa-On-Offin

Tel: 033 2228270


78

Brong Ahafo Region


Box 21, Berekum

Tel: 0642 22034

Kintampo Municipal Hospital Kintampo

Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital

Box 17, Dormaa-Ahenkro

Tel: 0648 22150

Kintampo College of Health,

Psychosocial Centre

Kintampo


Box 36, Techiman

Tel: 061 27403

St John of God Hospital

Box 24, Duayaw-Nkwanta

Tel: 061 27403

St Mathias Hospital

Box 43, Yeji

Methodist Hospital

Box 55, Wenchi

Tel: 020 8181340

St Thereasa’s Hospital

Box 30, Nkoranza

Tel: 061 26010/1

St Mary’s Hospital, Drobo

Box 14, Drobo via Japekrom

Tel: 0642 22284

St Elizabeth’s Hospital

Box 4, Hwidieam

Tel: 061 23958

Greater Accra Region

Maana Mission Hospital

Box TN 1032, Teshie-Nungua Est

Tel: 0302 7010919

OrphanAid Africa

Ayenyah, Dodowa

Services:

-Free psychosocial assistance for vulnerable

children and youth (aged 4 to 25), including

orphans, children with disability, special needs or

under threat, infected or affected by HIV/AIDS,

abandoned, etc.

-Psychosocial assistance in the facility or homes

of children in the community (shelter, feeding,

education, health, counselling).

Currently not taking on children due to limited

funds.

Alpha Medical Centre

Box GP 20790, Accra

Tel: 0302 502154

Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers

Association

Kokomlemle, Accra

Tel: 0302 232164/ 030 2224860


79

Kole’bu Teaching Hospital

Korle’ Gonno Accra

Sakumono Community Multiplex Hospital

Sakumono, Tema Metropolitan Accra Psychiatric Hospital

Asylum down, Accra

Pantang Psychiatric Hospital

Pantang, Accra

Ghana Cocoa Coffee Sheanut Farmers Association No.

C209/3 Abavana Junction

Kotobabi, Accra

Tel: 0302 226980

Ghana National Association of Poultry

Farmers

No. 25 Asafoatse Mankata Street

Kotobabi, Accra

Tel: 0302 238417; Mobile: 027 7605907

National Association of Beauticians and

Hairdressers (NABH Ghana)

Kaneshie First light, Accra

P. O. Box 421, Mamprobi

RELIGIOUS BODIES/CHURCHES AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Organization Services/assistance

Christian Council of Ghana (CCG)

Accra

Tel : 0302 776678 /774097 /773429/

024380927

Web: www.christiancouncilofghana.org

Linking persons who share the religious affiliation

Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare Linking persons, especially vulnerable ones, to

social safety nets, psychosocial facilities and skills

training centres

National Health Insurance Scheme

No. 36-6th Avenue, Opposite AU Suite, Ridge

Residential Area, Accra

Private mail bag, Ministries

Tel: 0302 333555/254710/216970/238136

Fax: 0302 232325

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.nhis.gov.gh

National Health Insurance Scheme Services

Intercity STC Coaches Ltd.

Opp. Mechanical Lloyd

Accra (near Awudome Cemetery)

Tel: 0302 221414

- Upgrading of driving skills to professional

driving

- Transportation / Road / Commercial vehicles /

Bus hire

- Transportation / Road / Bus services (intercity

transportation services)

Tel:0302


http://www.nhis.gov.gh/


80

5. OVERVIEW OF THE MOST COMMON VULNERABLE GROUPS OF

RETURNEES TO GHANA

5.1 VULNERABLE GROUPS

Ghanaians who return from abroad voluntarily without the assistance of Assisted Voluntary Return

and Reintegration (AVRR) or similar programmes are usually regular migrants with an appreciable

level of education and employable skills; sometimes they also possess European passports.

However, most returnees who return voluntarily through AVRR programmes tend to be irregular

migrants disadvantaged in terms of skills and education. They can be categorized into 3 main

groups, namely, i) the illiterate, ii) the semi-literate or low skilled migrants such as basic artisans

with just a primary level of education; iii) and the low to medium skilled migrants such as JSS and

SSS graduates with a minimum of employable skills.22

There is the first, second and third generation of Ghanaians living abroad. The second and third

generations are usually less vulnerable due to some education attained abroad.23

Interviews with the

International Organization for Migration, governmental institutions such as the National Disaster

Management Organization, non-governmental organizations such as IntEnt, EMPRETEC,

RECFAM and Alliance Against Irregular Migration, among others, as well as civil society

organizations in Ghana, that have years of experience assisting Ghanaian returnees, reveal that

some groups of Ghanaian returnees are more vulnerable than others. The most vulnerable groups

identified are women, girls and children; unskilled and uneducated returnees; returnees with

physical and/or mental health problems; as well as elderly persons. Although the caseload of

unaccompanied minors is relatively small, such returnees are vulnerable and would need a guardian

and family reunification.

5.1.1 Women, girls and children

Women and children are the most vulnerable among returnees to Ghana. Most female returnees are

unmarried; some are single mothers. They generally tend to be financially disadvantaged.

Challenges with finding gainful employment upon return, in turn, may lead them to readily

available vulnerable jobs, such as sex work which, among other dangers, also increases their

vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.

This vulnerable group needs to be empowered through assistance with employment, social services,

intermediate accommodation with subsistence allowance, and psychological assistance, as well as

education for the children. The head office of the Department of Social Welfare in Accra can link

this group of returnees to the services and programmes available for vulnerable persons in their

communities, districts and regions.

22

Interview with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ghana, 13th

August 2012. 23

Interview with IntEnt Ghana, 27th

August 2012.


81

5.1.2 Unskilled and uneducated returnees

Although there are highly skilled Ghanaians in the country, the unemployment rate is relatively

high as numbers of the unemployed are higher than those of job vacancies available. In 2002,

nationwide, there were 513,228 registered unemployed, whereas by 2008 the figure had increased

to 594,092. In 2011, there were 4,553 registered unemployed (2.1%) with vacancy and placement

of 1,687 in the Eastern Region; 12,896 registered unemployed (5.9%) with vacancy and placement

of 398 in the Western Region; 22,979 registered unemployed (10.4%) with vacancy and placement

of 1,021 in the Brong Ahafo Region; 41,863 registered unemployed (19%) with vacancy and

placement of 1687 in the Greater Accra Region; and 115,900 registered unemployed (52.7%) with

vacancy and placement of 788 in the Ashanti Region. The mismatch between the numbers of the

registered unemployed and vacancies available only about a year ago clearly indicate the level of

unemployment in the country.

Moreover, due to their status, most irregular migrants are unable to receive education and/or

training before they return to their home country, which further exacerbates their situation upon

arrival as they have to compete with the skilled unemployed for the few vacancies available.

Therefore, it is much more challenging for those without employable skills and education to

become economically engaged when they return from abroad. Particularly in the case of unskilled

youth, this may lead to antisocial behaviour, thereby making them not only more vulnerable but

also a burden to their community.

Fortunately, however, there are various vocational training centres in every region of the country

that can assist in empowering returnees with the skills necessary to increase the likelihood of their

gainful employment, and especially self-employment, without much delay if they have a start-up kit

support or capital.

5.1.3 Persons with Physical or Mental Health Problems

Returnees with acute medical or psychological conditions as well as persons with disability

constitute another vulnerable group. Unfavourable working conditions abroad and limited access to

health care and medications due to irregular status are among the factors which may further

aggravate the medical conditions and psychosocial problems of some Ghanaian migrants.

Moreover, after a number of years spent in a different environment and culture, the world view of

migrants is also likely to have changed. The extent of such changes depends on the amount of time

spent abroad and the level of assimilation into the culture of a given host country. However, in the

meantime, Ghana itself has also been undergoing a series of transitions that most returnees are

likely to be no longer familiar with. As world views are formed over time, reintegrating back into

the Ghanaian society upon return and reconciling the cultural differences between Ghana and their

host country is therefore a stressful process associated with migration and a considerable challenge

to most returnees.


82

For returnees with mental health problems this is a double agony, as they also have to deal with

the challenges generally faced by the mentally ill in the country. Statistics from the health

information system indicates that the treatment rate of only 32,283 persons across the country

contributed to a treatment gap of 98% of the total polulation expected to have a mental disorder

(WHO, 2007). Although treatment for the mentally ill is completely free of charge in psychiatric

hospitals in Ghana, persons with mental health problems are often unable to benefit from it because

of fear of stigmatization by the society. Generally, access to health care in Ghana is relatively cheap

for those with National Health Insurance and costly for those without. The stigma associated with

seeking services from public psychiatric hospitals remains a challenge in Ghana, whereas private

psychological and psychiatric services are expensive.

Physical health conditions most common among returnees include but are not limited to skin

rashes, waist problems, and HIV. Some returnees arrive in Ghana with acute medical conditions

which are deteriorating, for example, acute cancer or TB. Medical assistance is therefore needed to

treat or manage such conditions. Other returnees, among them children, suffer from acute mental

health conditions that result from the stress related to adjustment to unfarmiliar surroundings,

among other migration challenges, and that require psychological and/or psychiatric interventions.

Children diagnosed with autism, for instance, would need special psychological assistance.

Psychiatric and psychological cases can be referred to major psychiatric hospitals in the country,

while children with disabilities could be referred to appropriate centres run by the public schools

disability desk in all regions.

5.1.4 The Elderly

Returnees aged sixty five (65) and above are vulnerable and may require special care, especially if

they also have age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, cataracts,

osteoporosis, hypertension, or diabetes, among others. Moreover, elderly returnees, although unable

to be actively engaged with gainful employment, may still be responsible for providing for their

own basic needs. Such difficulties, in turn, can result in mental health challenges, hence making

these returnees ever more vulnerable. The elderly are therefore likely to be in need of financial,

medical and psychological interventions aimed at facilitating their reintegration. However, in

Ghana, there are neither senior homes, nor interventions that could be accessed by this group of

returnees.

5.2 SPECIFIC NEEDS OF MOST VULNERABLE RETURNEES

Efforts to reach out to the poor and the vulnerable must adopt diverse approaches in order to meet

the different needs of different groups.24

Most vulnerable returnees usually have needs unique to

their situations. Generally, such needs include but are not limited to shelter or housing, health

24

Ghana National Social Protection Strategy (Draft), Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Ghana, January

2012.


83

assistance (medical, psychological and/or psychiatric interventions), and assistance with social

reintegration into receiving communities, in addition to assistance with education/vocational

training and income generation. One vital need of returnees, especially those with HIV, is access to

subsistence allowance until gainfully employed. In the case of unaccompanied minors, families

have to be traced or guardians provided. Most vulnerable returnees also need assistance with

contacts and linkages to relevant services, as well as assistance with readjusting to the daily hassles

and the traditional way of everyday life (situations from customer service to community and family

expectations).

Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) should be advised to contact district hospitals located in all

regions for free Anti Retoviral (ARV) drugs (see annex for list of hospitals). The target of

extending the treatment coverage to 69,294 persons living with HIV set by the Ghana AIDS

Commission for the year 2012 has been met at 95% as of September 2012.25

However, important

challenges still remain: ARV drugs in the country are frequently in shortage, which is unacceptable

for Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART), doctors in the HIV units of hospitals are often unavailable to

attend to PLHIV, and, due also to stigmatization, the latter often have to undertake costly travel to

more remote regions for treatment. Other costs and challenges involve medical testing

(recommended twice a year, e.g. CD4, lab exams etc.) at the cost of about GHS 100 for each set of

tests and with an approximate duration of 3 weeks for running the test and receiving the results.

There are about 400 support groups for PLHIV across the country.

5.3 ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND NGOS THAT CAN

SUPPORT THE REINTEGRATION OF VULNERABLE RETURNEES

6.3.1 International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that humane and

orderly migration benefits migrants and society. It acts with partners in the international community

to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management; advance

understanding of migration issues; and encourage social and economic development.

Since 2002, IOM Ghana has been successfully facilitating the return of Ghanaian migrants from

abroad, including from numerous European countries, as well as coordinating and managing their

reintegration in Ghana.26

As many as 1,513 Ghanaians have been assisted by IOM Ghana between

2007 and September 2012. Most of the assisted returnees have been gainfully employed and their

returns have been sustainable. During interviews, some of the returnees assisted by IOM Ghana

25

Presentation by the National Aids Control Programme at the Partnership forum organized by the Ghana AIDS

Commission under the theme ”Getting to Zero: Accelerating the National response towards the MDGs”, 2012. 26

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ghana, 2011-2015 Strategic Plan.


84

express fulfilment27

resulting from the smooth reinsertion into their communities and successful

engagement in income generating activities and/or education.28

The effectiveness of reintegration is to a significant extent due to IOM’s commitment to assisting

returnees in a strategic and practical manner, including targeted assistance to local receiving

communities. IOM assists returnees in all stages of the return process: pre-departure, arrival and

post-arrival. Post-arrival assistance provided by IOM Ghana is not limited to airport arrival

assistance, but also includes onward transportation to the final destination, psychosocial counselling

by professional counsellors, support towards income generating activities (individual businesses

and group cooperatives), family tracing, health related assistance, monitoring and linking returnees

to institutions for appropriate technical support when necessary.

IOM Ghana is located in 3 strategic locations namely, in the Greater Accra (Accra), Northern

Region (Tamale) and the Western Region, and provides services nationwide. Importantly, IOM

Ghana also has a Migration Health Assessment Centre in Accra that provides health services,

including HIV voluntary counselling and testing, to migrants.

IOM Ghana networks with local NGOs and governmental institutions in order not only to

effectively support the reintegration of returnees into receiving communities but also to build the

capacity of these organizations and institutions in the field of return and reintegration. Among such

NGOs is the Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants (RECFAM), Pentax

Management Consultancy Services Limited, Scholars in Transit, Tropical Agricultural, Marketing

and Consultancy Services (TRAGRIMAC), and Alliance Against Irregular Migration (AAIM), to

mention but a few. IOM also works with governmental institutions such as NADMO and the Ghana

Immigration Service to technically assist and facilitate the process of reintegration of returnees into

their local communities. These partners also monitor the progress of reintegration through planned

monitoring visits to the working sites of returnees.

5.3.2 Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants (RECFAM)

RECFAM is an NGO that provides assistance to migrants and potential migrants in Ghana. The

NGO is a country representative for the West African Network for Child Protection and Young

Migrants on the Move. RECFAM assists with the cases of Ghanaian migrants referred by other

countries and involving social issues or specific needs. Among the services provided by RECFAM

is assistance with the reintegration of returnees and their individual projects, counselling,

information dissemination and awareness raising, community development projects aimed at

improving the livelihood in communities through local empowerment, and research.29

RECFAM

27

Interviews with a Ghanaian returnee from Italy through IOM AVRR Programme (Ghana, 27th

August 2012) and

Ghanaian returnees from Malta through IOM AVRR Programme (Ghana, 29th

August 2012). 28

Interviews with the Alliance Against Irregular Migration, Ghana, September 2012, and the International Organization

for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ghana, 13th

August, 2012. 29

Interview with RECFAM, Ghana, 29th

August, 2012.


85

has experience in assisting the reintegration processes in Ghana through the provision of strategic

services such as family assessment aimed at resolving psychosocial family dynamics; monitoring of

projects or income generating activities; consistent counselling; and research on how to transfer,

develop or engage the skills acquired by returnees for the sustainability of their reintegration. They

have also linked their clients to health services, accommodation, counselling services and clothing

services. RECFAM has been working successfully in these areas through networking with

governmental agencies, other local NGOs and IOM Ghana.

5.3.3 Intergenerational Initiative Programme (IIP)

IIP is an NGO that assists orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), vulnerable youth, vulnerable

caregivers, and children in need. Its services are free of charge but depend on available funds and

resources. The NGO operates in the Western and Greater Accra regions and works in five thematic

areas, although currently functions effectively in three areas, namely, women and children; in- and

out- of school youth; and behaviour change support and maternal neonatal/ child birth (malaria

prevention, nutrition and health).30

IIP is currently assisting over 100 caregivers and 300 OVC with

65 beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Scheme. It links the youth to the Livelihood

Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme through social welfare; provides voluntary

counselling, HIV counselling, testing and linkages to appropriate programmes; provides counselling

and organizes support groups for people living with HIV (PLHIV) as well as educates youth on

reproductive health.

5.3.4 Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services (TRAGRIMAC)

TRAGRIMAC is an NGO that mainly provides support towards agriculture-related activities,

especially sunflower and sheanut crops and produce. TRAGRIMAC provides information on the

agricultural sector of Ghana’s economy, researches agricultural trial in crops, promotes the

cultivation and promotion of sunflower in Ghana and West Africa, and supports farmer base

organizations (FBO), i.e. groups of farmers brought together by common objectives, by sourcing

funding for their project activities.31

Usually such funds are grants (99%) and recovery facility.32

TRAGRIMAC also provides technical support and training, as well as monitoring and evaluation of

agriculture-related activities. Since 1999, the NGO has been working with IOM Ghana in order to

effectively assist returnees.

30

Interview with Intergenerational Initiative Programme, Ghana, 7th

September 2012. 31

Interview with Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services, Ghana, 7th

September 2012. 32

Recoverable facility are loans with zero interest, usually beneficiaries pay back in-kind with farm produce.


86

5.3.5 National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO)

NADMO is a governmental agency that receives repatriates, registers them at the port of entry and

provides them with onward transportation. NADMO links returnees to respective district assemblies

and social safety nets in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare. Mainly coordinated

by the Department of Social Welfare and NADMO, intervention programmes for vulnerable

Ghanaians are poverty oriented. One of such programmes is the Ghana Social Opportunity project

under the Ministry of Local Government. Within the framework of this programme, the Department

of Social Welfare and NADMO identify the poorest/most deprived families to be supported with

monthly stipends. Under the same auspices is the Labour Intensive Public Work programme

involving road construction, for which a training centre has been opened in Koforidua, the Eastern

region of Ghana. The Government Strategic System Agency also implements the Livelihood

Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme that supports the deprived and the poor

Ghanaians.33

NADMO also assists Ghanaians, including returnees, by offering them volunteer work

opportunities in an attempt to thereby mitigate the potential antisocial activities which people might

engage in when unemployed and not otherwise engaged. In every community, NADMO has a

Disaster Volunteer Group. This type of volunteerism does not involve any stipend. NADMO, which

formerly assisted returnees by linking them to jobs, is now shifting its focus to assisting returnees

once they have found employment. Such support includes the provision of tools to support their

work as well as technical assistance, for example, from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Black

Protection Regulation Service and the Ministry of Health.

5.3.6 Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare

The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is a governmental institution mandated to promote

sustainable employment opportunities, management and vocational skills development, training and

re-training, harmonious industrial relations, safe group formations and social integration of the

vulnerable, the excluded and the disadvantaged for the development and growth of the economy.34

The rights of all citizens to work are enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, hence the aims and

objectives of the Ministry, some of which are of interest to returnees. The institution assists with

special employment schemes, vocational training/ skills development, and co-operative

development targeting vulnerable groups by-passed by the growth process, including the assetless

and the unskilled, the extremely poor and those falling victims to the growth process, that is, the re-

deployed, the entrenched and the educated unemployed. Recognizing the problem of high youth

unemployment, the Ministry has opened to public all social welfare training institutions such as the

National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Integrated Community Centres for Employment

33

Interview with National Disaster Management Organization, Ghana, 14th

August, 2012. 34

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/governance/ministries/334--ministry-of-employment, accessed 21 August, 2012.

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/governance/ministries/334--ministry-of-employment


87

Skills (ICCES), the Opportunities Industrialization Centre (OIC), as well as rehabilitation centres

for the disabled.

As mentioned above, the Ministry coordinates most of the governmental intervention programmes.

The National Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme is one of the

programmes under the Social Protection Strategy aimed at assisting 250,000 beneficiaries

(orphaned and vulnerable children, extremely poor persons above 65 years, persons living with

severe disabilities, without productive capacity being the criteria for eligibility) in 170 districts

across the country by 2015. By supporting beneficiaries with reliable minimum income, the LEAP

programme provides basic livelihood security and increases the ability of the target population to

plan for the future. Among the many major achievements of the LEAP is that 39,146 beneficiary

households (16% of the target population size) were receiving LEAP cash grants as of December

2010.

5.4 SPECIAL ASSISTANCE COMBINED WITH INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES

Generally, special assistance provided to returnees in addition to support towards income-

generating activities is mostly health related assistance.35

Some Ghanaian returnees are diabetic and

have high blood pressure – their conditions can be stabilized with close medical attention. Others

return with chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer or mental illnesses. Those with HIV are

supported with Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). Relevant referrals are made for psychological and

psychiatric assistance for those with acute mental health problems. In the case of one returnee who

was a minor and paralyzed, for instance, the assistance provided by IOM consisted of both micro

finance support and special medical assistance. In addition, the returnee’s house was refurbished to

facilitate his movement in the house.

5.5 STORIES OF REINTEGRATION

5.5.1 Returnee Business and Reintegration Story (1)

Name: Kofi

Country: Ghana

Location: Ashanti Region

Date of departure from Italy: 9th

January, 2012

35

Interviews with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ghana, 13th

August 2012, and with

Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants, 13th

and 29th

August, 2012.


88

“I am like an icon. Upon arrival, I began telling people in Ghana ‘if the tilapia comes from the

water to tell you that the crocodile is dead, you don’t have to argue because it lives in the water

with the crocodile’36

this is to my colleagues in Ghana”.

Kofi is a 29 year old single parent. At the age of 25, Kofi had completed his tertiary education at the

polytechnic and his aim was to continue his education for a better life. Due to the economic

difficulties he was facing in Ghana, however, he decided to travel to Europe or the United States to

seek greener pastures. He managed to secure a one year visa with a work permit to Italy. He was

planning to stay there with his Ghanaian friend, cleaning whose home should have allowed Kofi to

earn an income necessary to finance his further studies.

Yet upon his arrival in Italy in 2008, the country was already experiencing economic hardship as a

result of the global economic crisis. Consequently, his friend had to return to Ghana. Kofi could not

afford to return to Ghana empty handed so he stayed on, although having to move from one friend’s

house to another. Soon his visa had expired and he migrated from the North to the South of Italy.

Nevertheless, with no stable job and source of income, Kofi’s situation kept getting worse. Over the

2 years he had spent in the North of Italy (Pordemone), he only had a 20-week apple picking job

which earned him a mere EUR 450 (he was awarded an extra EUR 50 for his hard work).

The only way Kofi could stay in Italy legally was by becoming a student. Enrolment into an

information technology programme ensured him a six month visa extension which he kept

renewing every six months. ‘Six months after six months,” Kofi had spent 3 years and 10 months in

Italy without a job. Kofi shared his experiences:

“Life became unbearable! Bad! And I said to myself: “Should I stay here when the dream is not

happening? Living in a peasant luxury?”. So I finally decided and was linked to IOM by a social

welfare woman. Even when I was coming to Ghana there were some people who said they were not

coming because they do not have anything to return to Ghana with. But I think having my life alone

is enough and important. We must know that if the going gets tough, it can also be worse.”37

Kofi learned about IOM’s assisted voluntary return and reintegration programme from a social

worker. Having found more information on the internet, he decided to return voluntarily because, in

his own words, “there was no work and it was time wasting for me so I decided to return to my

country to start all over again”.

The young man was taken through a free 6-month agriculture training in Italy, during the course of

which he was taught how to run a poultry farm. He was then promised a grant and assisted to return

home through IOM. Upon arrival in Ghana, he received a monthly stipend of GHS 670 for the first

3 months. The reintegration grant helped him set up a poultry business by supporting the purchase

of equipment and a borehole to provide water to the poultry.

36

Interview with a Ghanaian returnee from Italy, Ghana September 2012. 37

Words of Ghanaian returnee from Italy when narrating his story to IOM Ghana staff.


89

Kofi was determined to start his life from scratch and made the most out of IOM’s assistance. He

successfully reintegrated into his community. When asked about the eight months after his return

home, Kofi’s response was that even though becoming successful in Ghana is a gradual process,

life in Ghana has been far better for him since his return. Thanks to the IOM support, he is now a

successful poultry farmer able to sustain himself and his family. Despite being a single parent of a

4-year old daughter, having lost both parents and having no relationship with his only sister, Kofi is

coping well socially and has no regrets about returning to Ghana. He has plans to further his

education in law and the French language.

5.5.2 Returnee Business and Reintegration Story (2)

Name: Tofik

Country: Ghana

Location: Greater Accra Region

Date of departure from Malta: June, 2012

29 year-old Tofik has a wife and a child and currently 8 family members are financially dependent

on him. Tofik left Ghana in 2010 as a high school graduate with the intention to travel to Italy. He

reached Libya through the desert (Boku) and Niger (Nyame). Tofik shared his experiences with

IOM Ghana staff:

“It was a 3 day journey by road. On the journey, I slept in the car throughout, I entered Libya with

a passport and a visa. After about 10 months, the Libya crisis began and we were rescued to Malta.

We were given the option to either stay in Malta for one and a half years or to go back to our

country. IOM visited us at the detention centre in Malta and explained about the assistance they

could offer if we wished to return voluntarily, such as setting us up with an income generating

activity. I decided to return voluntarily for my own future and to take care of my wife and child. I

was trained in road construction through vocational and technical upgrading course. All travel

arrangements were made and EUR 200 as allowance before departure was provided by IOM. I was

assisted to return and upon arrival I was assisted with a business of my choice which is the

transport business. I am now doing well financially and more comfortable in Ghana than I was in

Libya: I am gainfully employed in Ghana, able to take care of my family, wife and child, and also

save GHS 50 profit daily at the bank. I’ve indeed no regrets about returning to Ghana. To my

counterparts who return: if you commit to the support given to you, you will progress”.38

38

Interview with Ghanaian returnee from Malta through IOM AVRR programme.


90

6. CREATION OF COOPERATIVES BY RETURNEES

6.1 GOOD PRACTICES REGARDING THE CREATION OF COOPERATIVES BY

RETURNEES

A number of cooperatives have been formed by returnees with the assistance of IOM Ghana. Some

of these were pilot cooperatives, including a farming group, the Nkranza Libya Returnee

Association, and artisan groups created in the Brong Ahafo region in 2012. IOM supported these

initiatives in partnership with NADMO and Pentax Management Consultancy Services Limited.

The formation of cooperatives included group formation, sensitization of group dynamics,

registration process (appropriate agency assisted with registration as a legal entity), training on

various steps of project implementation, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation,

discussion of evaluation report and provision of appropriate recommendations, along with technical

support. As an implementing partner, Pentax conducted a series of strategic trainings focusing on

cooperative group formation and entrepreneurial skills.

In the case of the Nkranza Libya Returnee Association, for instance, although eventually the

cooperative has proved successful, challenges certainly had to be overcome in the process. These

ranged from uncontrollable environmental effects such as climate change guided by the

metrological service, leading to low yield;39

to challenges with marketing the farm produce which

compounded the situation leading to loss of value of the produce. However, the monitoring support

provided through IOM and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, as well as the involvement of

Scholars in Transit NGO, Pentax Management Consultancy Services Ltd., and TRAGRIMAC

accounted partially for the success of the group cooperative. Appropriate measures, such as

irrigation, were taken to mitigate the effects of unpredictable climate conditions. Farmers who were

trained are still utilizing their skills and knowledge, and all returnees are settled and working

successfully, with none of them planning to return to Libya.40

6.2 LOCAL NGOS THAT CAN ASSIST WITH THE SETTING-UP OF COOPERATIVES

AND THE MONITORING PROCESS

6.2.1 Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services (TRAGRIMAC)

TRAGRIMAC is a local NGO located in Tema, Accra, and Tamale that mainly provides support

towards agricultural activities, specifically, sunflower and sheanut crops and produce.

TRAGRIMAC supports farmer based organizations (FBO) and groups of farmers by sourcing funds

for their project activities.41

These are mostly grants (99%) and, occasionally, recoverable loans.42

39

Interview with Scholars in Transit, Ghana, 7th

September, 2012. 40

Interview with Tropical Agricultural Marketing and Consultancy Services, Ghana 7th

September, 2012. 41

Interview with Tropical Agricultural, Marketing and Consultancy Services, Ghana 7th

September 2012.


91

TRAGRIMAC also provides technical support in the agricultural sector and engages in monitoring

and evaluation of agriculture-related activities.

Since 1999, the NGO has been working with IOM Ghana to effectively assist returnees. Together

with IOM Ghana, TRAGRIMAC has been involved in the group formation and the implementation

of the agricultural project for the production of sunflower by Ghanaian returnees from Libya.

Among its other services, TRAGRIMAC also provides information on the agricultural sector of

Ghana’s economy, researches agricultural trial in crops; promotes the cultivation and promotion of

sunflower in Ghana and West Africa.

6.2.2 Scholars in Transit

Scholars in Transit is an NGO based in Nkranza in the Brong Ahafo region which assists Ghanaian

returnees from Europe and Africa. Depending on the availability of funds, the organization provides

services to migrants free of charge. The services of Scholars in Transit mainly focus on irregular

migration; assistance for the reintegration of Ghanaian returnees; as well as relevant information,

counselling and consultations to actual and potential migrants. Counselling is done by professional

counsellors or psychologists.43

6.2.3 IntEnt Ghana

IntEnt Ghana is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that selects, trains and assists

(starting) entrepreneurs in the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The organization

delivers Business Development Services (BDS), raises awareness and builds capacity within the

SME sector and among the stakeholders involved. IntEnt has helped migrants to establish over 200

businesses in their native countries, including Ghana.

IntEnt Ghana works closely with IntEnt the Netherlands and other IntEnt offices and partners. The

IntEnt Ghana programme, which has been running for more than 13 years, is implemented in

cooperation with organizations such as EMPRETEC Ghana, the Ghana Investment Promotion

Centre (GIPC), NBSSI, TechnoServe, USAID, DFID, GIZ, DANIDA (SPEED Ghana), PEF

Ghana, AGI, and CHF International, among others. The main activities of IntEnt Ghana are:

Creating awareness

Local capacity building

Selection and assessment

Training

Assistance and support (e.g business plan development)

Monitoring, coaching and evaluation

42

Recoverable loans are loans with zero interest, and farmers pay back in-kind (with their produce rather than cash). 43

Interview with Scholars in Transit, Ghana, 7th

September, 2012.


92

The organization recruits its clients, i.e. Ghanaians, including youth and returnees. To access its

services, an application has to be submitted by e-mail ([email protected]). There is a test form

to be completed by the applicant during the submission of application. This test assists in

identifying the applicant’s competencies. An intake interview is then conducted on the basis of

which applicants are advised what is appropriate for them. Trainings in entrepreneurship and

entrepreneurial skills are usually conducted for groups of selected applicants and, occasionally, for

individuals. Individuals/ groups are then assisted to develop their business plans.

6.2.4 EMPRETEC

EMPRETEC is a non-governmental organization located in Greater Accra and operating in 6

regions of the country, namely, the Greater Accra region (Accra and Tema), the Northern region

(Tamale), the Eastern region (Koforidua), the Ashanti region (Kumasi), the Western region

(Takoradi), and the Volta region (HO). The services of EMPRETEC include but are not limited to

capacity building in the area of entrepreneurship, financial and business plan development,

monitoring and evaluation, and cooperative creation. The cost of service depends on the type of

service provided.

6.2.5 Pentax Management Consultancy Services Ltd.

Pentax is an organization that provides a variety of services, including project implementation,

development of monitoring and evaluation systems for programmes, development of frameworks

for tracking projects and assessing their success and impact, training and capacity building

(microfinance, business development services, monitoring and evaluation and customer services),

socio-economic research, baseline studies (social and economic status at the beginning of the

project), and fund management. Pentax has its headquarters in the Greater Accra region and an

office in the Northern region (Tamale).

7. COST OF LIVING AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO

RETURNEES IN GHANA

7.1 BRIEF OVERVIEW

Successive governments of Ghana have expressed their commitment to reducing inequality and

poverty in the Ghanaian society by subsidising the provision of basic social services, such as

education, healthcare, water and sanitation to citizens. All these efforts notwithstanding, a

significant proportion of households and individuals in Ghana continue to live in abject poverty and

with limited access to basic social services. This is a result of inadequate funding to support wide

coverage of the poor and the vulnerable, shortage of skilled labour to deliver services, poor data

base on the population, weak accountability mechanisms in the public sector and, last but not least,



93

weak conceptualisation of the links between economic and social development in development

policies and programmes.

For instance, only a handful of Ghanaians (approx. 10%) have access to contributory-based social

security; many more have access to health insurance as non-premium paying registered members of

the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). In addition, customary informal social security

mechanisms have weakened due to increased urbanisation and migration. The cost of living for the

purpose of this report will be considered as the cost of feeding, accommodation, and social services

such as health, basic education, utilities (water, electricity), communication and transportation.

7.2 FEEDING

The current cost of feeding is more than twice that in 2006. The cost of feeding per adult per month

is estimated at GHc 63.60 ($33.60)44

using the upper limit of the poverty line and an average of Ghc

56.54 ($29.87) based on the two poverty lines established by the latest Ghana Living Standards

Survey (GLSS) conducted in 2005/2006 (GSS, 2007). The last three rounds of the GLSS, multi-

topic household surveys, provided comprehensive information on the living standards over a period

of fifteen years (1991/92 – 2005/06),45

reporting two national poverty lines based on nutrition needs

of the population.46

Using the higher poverty line, the results indicated that the incidence of

consumption poverty had fallen by 11 percentage points in the seven year period since 1998/99; and

the depth of poverty for those who remain poor had remained almost the same. In 2006, the

estimated cost of feeding using the high and low poverty lines was approximately GHc 30.91 and

GHc 24.04, respectively, with an average of GHc 27.48.47

7.3 ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is relatively expensive in the Western and Greater Accra regions, as compared to

the Eastern, Ashanti, Central, Brong Ahafo and other regions. Although housing development has

mostly been a private venture by individuals and families who build houses and rent them out to

those in need of accommodation, a number of real estate companies have also been involved in the

construction and sale of houses. Housing offered by real estate companies ranges from single-

bedroom houses to three-bedroom houses with prices ranging between $50,000 and $150,000,

respectively (IOM, 2011). There are, however, a number of real estate agents, especially in Accra,

who assist with finding accommodation in ones area of choice for a commission of 10% of the

initial rent advance, which can be rather costly if the rent for one or two years is payable to the

landlord in advance.

44

At October 2012 exchange rate of 1.893. 45

Ghana Statistical Service (2007), Pattern and Trends of Poverty in Ghana (1991-2006). 46

A lower line of 2,884,700 cedis per adult per year, and an upper line of 3,708,900 cedis per adult per year. Figures

are in old cedi currency value. 47

Estimated at December 2006 exchange rate of 0.92.


94

Generally, landlords require the payment of one to two years rent in advance form prospective

tenants. In the Greater Accra region, the average cost per month for a single room is GH¢ 40.00

($21.13);48

for two rooms (hall and chamber) - GH¢ 50.00; for a single self contained apartment

(one room with toilet, bathroom and kitchen) - GH¢ 75; for a two bedroom self-contained

apartment (two rooms with toilet, bathroom and kitchen) - GH¢ 150; for an estate two-bedroom

apartment (self-compound two bedroom, hall, with toilet(s), bathroom(s) and kitchen) - GH¢ 400;

and for an estate three-bedroom house – approximately GH¢ 600.

Housing costs outside the Greater Accra region are substantially lower, i.e. by about 8% in the

Ashanti, Central and Brong Ahafo regions and by more than 8% in other regions, with the

exception of the Western region (where prices are on a par with those in the Greater Accra region).

Accommodation in the rural areas of the country is relatively more costly than in the urban

communities.

Overall, the cost of rent of property depends on the location and size of the property, the availability

of social amenities such as good roads, regular supply of electricity and pipe-borne water. A rent

agreement can be either verbal or written (a document prepared by the landlord with or without the

assistance from the rent control office and signed between the parties). Tenants are responsible for

the payment of utility bills (water and electricity) monthly. With the exception of slum areas, there

are no major security threats in residential areas.

7.4 HEALTH

The Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (GH-NHIS) has offices at all district levels in

every region of the country. The NHIS provides relatively affordable limited physical health care

services with limited treatment medication to its beneficiaries, yet does not extend to psychological

and professional counselling services, as specified in the client information card provided at each

district office. Persons not registered with the NHIS spend approximately GH¢ 5.00 and above for

each consultation and pay for all the drugs, forms of treatment and services usually before the

services are provided during each visit.

NHIS beneficiaries, with the exception of pregnant women and children under 6 years of age, pay

processing fees of GH¢ 4.00 - GH¢ 5.00, premiums between GH¢ 12.00 and GH¢ 48.00, and/or

registration renewal fees of GH¢ 2.00 - GH¢ 5.00 yearly. Persons in formal employment only pay a

processing fee of GH¢ 4.00 and renew their registration yearly at GH¢ 2.00; registration can also be

done on their behalf by their employers. Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)

contributors both in the formal and the informal sector, with an SSNIT statement confirming their

contribution of at least one year and a half, can register at GH¢ 5.00 and renew their registration at

GH¢ 5.00 each year. Persons working in the informal sector and the unemployed can register at

GH¢ 4.00 and pay an annual premium between a minimum of GH¢ 12.00 and a maximum of GH¢

48

At the October 2012 exchange rate of 1.893.


95

48.00. The cost of premium varies depending on certain criteria such as the type of occupation and

the district, among others.

Pregnant women and children under 6 years of age have instant access to healthcare at no cost.

Children between 6 and 18 years of age receive free healthcare services at a processing fee of GH¢

4.00; with registration renewable at GH¢ 2.00 every year. The retired and persons aged 70 and

above are covered by GH-NHIS and thus receive free healthcare at a processing fee of GH¢ 4.00.

All beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme (vulnerable

groups) are also automatically entitled to to free healthcare.

The client information card provides NHIS beneficiaries with district specific information on the

validation of cards, health procedure exclusion list, and lists of primary health facilities, referral

hospitals, diagnostic facilities, and pharmacies. The card also spells out the outpatient and inpatient

services, oral health, maternity care, eye care, and emergency services available and covered by the

NHIS within the specified district. It is recommended that all Ghanaians, including returnees,

register with their district NHIS office and obtain the client information card.

All three psychiatric hospitals in Ghana (two in the Greater Accra region and one in the Central

region) provide free-of-charge psychiatric services, including medication, admission, and in-

patient feeding. There are also psychiatric units in the five regional hospitals in the country (Volta,

Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, and Greater Accra regions) which provide free services and

medication to Ghanaians, with the exception of patients’ admission and feeding costs.49

Persons

with disability and psychiatric cases also receive free physical health care with no processing fee or

premium. Psychiatric patients benefit from the NHIS as every other beneficiary with regard to

physical health with no psychiatric medications covered, except for tranquilizers.

7.5 BASIC SCHOOL EDUCATION

There are both public and private schools (basic to tertiary level) in all regions of Ghana. Although

the cost of education varies from district to district and from region to region, generally, private

schools are more expensive than government or public schools.

Day care centers for children aged 1 and above are privately owned and relatively expensive. The

cost and quality of services differs from school to school and from region to region, with an average

cost of GH¢ 240 and above per year. Governmental schools have kindergartens (KG) for children

aged 4 to 6 years for an average duration of 2 years; primary schools for children aged 6 years and

above for an average of 6 academic years; and Junior High Schools (JHS) for children aged 12 and

above for an average of 3 academic years. Based on the 1992 Constitution, basic education –

kindagarten, primary and Junior Secondary School (JSS) levels – is free of charge in public schools

49

Interview with the Mental Health Unit at Kintampo Health Center, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana,

September 2012.


96

and learning materials are also to be provided at no cost. A tuition fee of between GH¢ 867 ($458)

and GH¢ 1,650 ($872) per year is required at the Senior High School (SHS) level.

However, some schools collect levies which are usually a token of about GH¢ 1.00 and above, as

agreed by the parents and teachers association (PTA) and approved by the metropolitan office in the

district or region. It is not unusual for parents to also play a complimentary role to support their

wards in school by paying levies based on the practical needs of the pupils, such as delay of the

capitation grant and/or improved facilities in the school.50

There may also be some costs involved

during the registration and enrolment of a child in school, such as the costs of a registration form,

Physical Education Kit, school uniforms, etc. Examination fees for Junior Secondary School

(J.S.S.) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E) are determined by the West African

Examination Council (WAEC).

The school feeding programme has been introduced in selected rural and/or deprived areas of

Ghana for the purpose of retention and increased enrolment of students in areas where enrolment is

low and/or dropout rates are high. Free school uniform is also provided for the needy children after

they are screened.

There are two main types of basic school education, namely, model schools and unit schools. Model

schools have improved facilities and may pay some token of levies depending on the facilities and

the PTA decision. Unit schools are religious and military bodies which incorporate their doctrines

into the main syllabus or programmes of the school and may also pay a token of levies. There are at

least two clusters of schools in every circuit which is also under sub-metropolitan offices.

Every cluster of schools has a disability desk that assists in placing and integrating pupils with

minor disabilities into mainstream schools; those with moderate to severe disabilities are referred to

appropriate centres and special schools. It is also noteworthy that when hospitalized in Korle’bu

teaching hospital (regional hospital) in Accra, persons with disabilities are taught by special needs

teachers during the admission period.

7.6 UTILITIES: WATER, ELECTRICITY, COMMUNICATION AND

TRANSPORTATION

Tariffs for utilities such as water and electricity, as well as transportation within regions differ from

region to region, with Greater Accra and urban communities being more expensive than other

regions and rural communities in this regard. However, communication tariffs are the same across

regions.

Water and electricity. Consumers of pipe-borne water and electricity pay a post-paid monthly bill

based on consumption and ranging approximately from GH¢ 4.00 to GH¢ 80 for a household of

50

Grant provided by the government under the fee-free policy for pupils in public basic schools nationwide that covers

items such as culture, sports and school’s internal development fees.


97

three persons. Currently, all newly installed electricity meters are pre-paid (post-paid meters will be

replaced eventually by pre-paid ones).

Communication. There is a number of mobile networks in the country – MTN, Vodaphone, Tigo,

Airtel, Expresso, Glo, – the services of which are mostly pre-paid (pay-as-you-go). It costs GH¢

1.00 to subscribe to any mobile network, upon presentation of a photo identification card.

Communication vouchers cost between GH¢ 1.00 and GH¢ 20.00.

Transportation. Ghana’s public transportation system is comprised of four main modes, namely,

road, air, rail and sea. Road transport is the most widely used mode of transport nationwide.

Motorcycles are most common in the Northern part of the country and the Volta region. Generally,

however, taxis and tro-tros (mini-buses and buses) are the main means of road transportation. They

can accommodate several passengers for a minimum cost of GH¢ 0.50 for short distances, and an

average of GH¢ 1.50 (tro-tro-buses) to GH¢ 3.50 (taxi) for long distances within the Greater Accra

region. At a higher price, there are taxi services (with or without a partner(s)), including ‘dropping’

for a short distance cost of GH¢ 4.00 and a long distance cost of approximately GH¢ 10.00 and

above within the Greater Accra region. As mentioned above, the costs of transportation are

substantially lower in other regions of Ghana. There are also privately run transportation companies

that operate intercity bus services, such as Intercity STC (see appendix for cost and schedules), OA

Transport and Mariset Plaza Transport.

7.7 PRACTICAL GUIDE TO RETURNESS

7.7.1 How to Open a Personal /Business Bank Account?

Generally, opening a bank account requires:

Documentary verification of ID (NHIS ID, passport, driver’s license, national ID, or voter

ID);

Document confirming date of birth (e.g. baptismal certificate, birth certificate, statutory

declaration, etc.);

Proof of residential address (e.g. introduction letter by doctor/lawyer/accountant,

government/local authority bill (at most 3 months old), fully completed address

confirmation by an existing customer of at least one year relationship with the bank, bank

statement indicating customer’s residential address (at most 3 months old), utility bill with

customer’s residential address (of at least 3 months old with attached Tenancy agreement

between customer and landlord if the name on utility bill is that of the landlord).

While some banks require any amount of money to open an account, others may require up to an

estimated GH¢ 200 to open an account or as a minimum balance to keep in the account.


98

In addition to the general requirements to open a bank account, persons under the age of 18 are

required to present a supporting document from parents or guardians.

Opening a business account will, in addition to the above, require a business certificate form A

(obtained during business registration) with an amount ranging from GH¢ 15 to GH¢ 300 in some

banks and a monthly service fee charge of approximately GH¢ 3 and above.

Opening a bank account can take between 5 minutes and an hour.

7.7.2 How to Obtain a Driver’s License?

In order to obtain a learners’ driving license one will need to present four passport photos and a

duly completed form (to be purchased at the bank in the premises of the Driver and Vehicle

Licensing Authority (DVLA) at a cost of GH¢ 60.50. One then receives lectures at a cost of GH¢

10 at the Red Cross office located in the same premises. After 3 months or the completion of

driving lessons with a private driving instructor, one takes 3 tests (written, theory and practical

driving tests), each on a different day, at the DVLA office. Upon passing the 3 tests, one receives a

cover note to drive until his/her driving license is ready (usually within 3 months). The tests can be

retaken until till one passes. A driver’s license is issued for 4 years but has to be renewed every 2

years at a cost of GH¢ 15.50.

Conversion of foreign driver’s license. For those who obtained their driver’s licenses from other

countries which are signatories to the international conversion, their licenses can be converted to the

local Ghanaian license of a similar class, at a cost of approximately GH¢ 34.00. The procedure is as

follows:

Foreign driver’s license with translated version (where license is not in English) and 4

passport size photographs have to be presented to the DVLA

Form F has to be filled out and eye test taken

Prescribed fee has to be paid

Cover note has to be obtained

License has to be collected on date stated.

7.7.3 How to Obtain or Renew a Ghanaian Passport?

Ghanaians of all ages are eligible to obtain a Ghanaian passport. The process requires a duly

completed form with witness and guarantors. The form can be obtained at most banks at a cost of

GH¢ 50 for a regular process of 21 working days and at GH¢ 100 for an express process of 7

working days. Identification card (ID) for proof of identity, proof of profession (or introduction

letter from employer or educational institution if student) and a vetting at the passport office (about

2-5 minutes) is also required. Once his/her passport picture and fingerprint is taken at the same


99

office, the applicant is issued a receipt with a collection date. One is required to pick up his/her

passport where the passport picture was taken.

7.7.4 How to Register a Business?

There are two main steps involved in registering a business in Ghana, beginning with the Ghana

Revenue Authority (GRA) and continuing with the Registrar General’s Department (RGD). To

register a business, one has to obtain directly from the GRA or download from www.gra.gov.gh a

form. Along with the completed form, a copy of ones photo identification card (such as driver’s

license, national ID, voter’s ID, passport or travel document) as well as an original ID for

verification, should be submitted to the vetting room. The applicant should return after 4 working

days to obtain a Task Payer Identification Number (TIN).

Applicants then proceed to the RGD and conduct enquiries/ business name search at Help Desks 1

and 2, complete the requisite form and submit it to the Verification Desk, submit the validation

form to any of the clerks at the Data Capturing, and collect a payment slip (free service) which,

together with the form, is to be submitted to the in-house bank for payment. The cost involved is

GH¢ 35 for sole business registration and GH¢ 75 for partnership business registration. Applicants

then have to submit a copy of the pay-in-slip, together with the forms, to the Accounts Desk for

endorsement. Finally, the endorsement form has to be submitted to the Receiving and Collection

Desk for processing. Once the procedure is complete, applicants are contacted for collection of

registration certificate(s) and certified true copies of document(s).

7.7.5 How to Enroll Ones Child into School?

With regards to nursery, primary and Junior Secondary School enrollment, parents are to identify

the school of their choice and register their child directly with the school. Junior High School

graduates already in the Ghana Education System are posted to Senior High Schools, while those

who are not currently in the Ghana Education System are required to contact the Director of

Secondary High School or the Girl Child Department (if a girls school is preferred) at the Ministry

of Education for enrolment assistance.

For placement, a potential student is required to take a placement test at the Ministry level and at

the school level. In addition to the test, a transcript, a letter from the Ministry and 2-4 passport

photos are required. Admission forms, to be duly completed, can be obtained from schools, usually

free of charge. Admitted students are required to undergo a medical examination and to get

vaccinations (e.g. tetanus, hepatitis, yellow fever, etc.) at their own cost. Vaccinations cost

approximately GH¢ 125, whereas the cost of a medical examination varies from place to place.

The new admission fee, including stationary and school uniform, amounts to approximately GH¢

288 for a day student and GH¢ 550 for a boarder for a term (3 months). The cost involved in

admitting new students into schools varies from school to school and tuition fees are paid in three

http://www.gra.gov.gh/


100

installments over a year. Needy and/or bright students may access scholarships from the Ghana

Cocoa Marketing Board or the Government Scholarship Secretariat; occasionally they can also be

sponsored by individuals and religious bodies.

7.7.6 How to Register for National Health Insurance?

Registration for the NHIS can be done in any of the

district hospitals at a varying cost, as explained above

(section 8.4). An identification card and 2-4 passport

photos may be required.

7.7.7 How to Access Treatment and Support if One Is HIV Positive?

Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) can contact any district hospital for treatment (see annex for list

of hospitals with ART-treatment). Running the necessary tests may cost approximately GH¢ 100, if

required by the doctor at the initial contact. One may need to repeat the tests every six months at

about the same cost each time. However, treatment is free of charge if one is eligible to be on

treatment.

There are also about 400 PLHIV support groups which can be registered with and joined at no cost,

except for a monthly due of GH¢ 0.50 (in Accra; monthly dues vary from region to region and from

one support group to another). For registration, ones passport photo is required and ones name,

region, parent’s name, last school attended and hospital ID (for verification) have to be provided.

Condoms at the cost of about GH¢ 0.50 and above are available at all pharmacies and chemist

shops.

7.7.8 How to Register to Vote?

In order to be able to vote, one has to obtain a voter identification card (ID). Usually, before the

presidential election, every district registers its members within a period of 10 days. Ghanaian

citizens aged 18 years and above and of sound mind are eligible to register. The information

required for the registration as a voter includes the applicant’s full name (surname, first name and

any other names), date and place of birth, age, sex, residential address, and hometown. All ten

fingerprints and a photograph of the head are taken. Where there is no objection to the application


101

for registration, a registration officer issues a voter ID in the form determined by the electoral

commission. Registration is free of charge and the process takes a day.

In case ones voter ID is lost, stolen, damaged, tampered with or destroyed, it should be reported to

the district officer of the electoral commission for replacement.

Voter ID cards are required to participate in the presidential election – a national voting exercise

taking place every four years (the most recent one was held on 7th

December, 2012). Voting takes

place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a voting day. Everyone is required to vote at the district where

his/her voter ID is issued. In case of a change of residence address for at least two months to an

adjourned district, one is required to contact his/her new district office so that the vote can be

transferred, i.e. the person can vote at his/her new location. For more information, please visit

www.ec.gov.gh

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The study has focused on surveying the business environment in Ghana to identify business and

employment opportunities, policies and social services that exist in the country to enable a holistic

and sustainable reintegration of returnees into their communities. Data for the study have been

gathered mainly through interviews, focus group discussions, desktop research, available literature,

observations of key stakeholders and those of researchers. Analysis has shown that political

stability coupled with sound macroeconomic indicators showcase Ghana as a business-friendly

country full of opportunities. Based on the findings, the study concludes that reintegration of

voluntary returnees into the socio-economic environment of Ghana is feasible.

However, there is the need for adequate financial, logistic and technical support to returnees in their

chosen areas of endeavor. Moreover, for the reintegration process to be smooth and effective, IOM

should pay considerable attention to relevant cultural and social factors because improper handling

of these factors is likely to hinder the entire reintegration process. Consequently, it is recommended

that cultural orientation, bargaining skills development and social networking programmes are

made an integral part of the reintegration plan, whenever possible.

There are foreseen challenges related to the social reintegration of returnees due to the fact that,

although available, social services and/or their delivery in the country is relatively unreliable.

Challenges related to psychosocial support to returnees are still significant. Based on the

information gathered from the available social structures, the smooth social reintegration of

returnees into their communities is thus feasible only to a certain extent. It is essential to note that

the service providers and programmes that can assist returnees may take longer than anticipated in

providing assistance. Free services sometimes involve some costs, whereas some services may not

be available when needed due to logistical challenges. In view of this, reintegration plans should

not rely heavily on such programmes and services in the first few months of post-arrival stage.


102

It is therefore recommended that, through information sharing and cooperation with relevant

stakeholders,, IOM continues improving its pre-departure and post-arrival strategies which are more

likely to lead to sustainable reintegration if appropriate linkages are made to the services and social

safety structures available. Givent the existing gaps in some social services, IOM is recommended

to lead in the reintegration of returnees.

An establishment of a comprehensive AVRR Reception Centre in Accra to provide strategic and

holistic intervention to returning Ghanaian migrants is paramount to manage reintegration process

effectively.51

This is necessary partly because, although governmental and non-profit organizations

and structures are in place to support the reintegration process, their functional levels may be low

due to genuine challenges to function effectively. However, to ensure the sustainability of return

and reintegration, the establishment of small businesses, formation of cooperatives, job placements,

capacity building through education and training, appropriate health assistance (medical,

psychological and psychiatric interventions), subsistence allowance and temporary accommodation

should be planned at the pre-departure stage and implemented during the initial stages of post-

arrival. Post-arrival activities should also include sociocultural orientation and psychosocial

counselling by professional counsellors to strengthen the psychological coping abilities of

returnees.

Finally, it is important for IOM missions in both sending and receiving countries to strengthen pre-

departure measures to include counselling, cultural orientation and development of a practical plan

of reintegration and training (if applicable); and post-arrival assistance to include counselling,

implementation of reintegration plans as well as monitoring and evaluation.

Limitations of the study

The information provided in this report was obtained from secondary and primary sources. The

sampling approach adopted limited the researchers to the networks and recommendations of well-

situated individuals or organizations with regards to the social structures. It should be noted that a

large number of particular service providers presented in this report were repeatedly recommended

by different interviewees. Although this may imply that these organizations are credible to some

extent, it may not necessarily be the case. However, due to resource constrains, the researchers

were unable to gather more in-depth information on more services and the credibility of their

providers, as well as on more networks and structures available in the five principal regions of

return. Therefore, further research aimed at assessing and confirming the credibility of most

structures and networks reported, as well as identifying more networks in the Western, Eastern,

Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions is recommended.

51

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ghana. Strategic Plan 2011-2015.


103

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Home in the World, International Migration and Development, in Contemporary Ghana and

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African Development Bank (2012) Republic of Ghana Country Strategy Paper 2012-2016, Country

Operations Department, West Region 1, 2012, pp. 1-39.

African Economic Outlook (2012), Promoting Youth Employment, Pocket Edition, pp 1-18.

Arthur, J.A. (2008) The African Diaspora in United States and Europe: The Ghanaian Experience,

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Centre For Migration Studies, University of Ghana, National Migration Policy For Ghana (Third

Draft) July 2012. Submitted to the National Migration Unit, Ministry of Interior.

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Doing Business (2012), Doing Business in a More Transparent World, A co-publication of The

World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, online www.doingbusiness.org,

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August 2012 at 9 pm.

Ghana National Population Council (1994), Ghana National Population Policy [Revised Edition],

Accra 56p. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/population/policies/GHANA.htm, accessed in

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Ghana: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2012),IMF Country Report No. 12/203.

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(GH-GNSPS). Investing in People for a Better Ghana. January 2012 Draft.

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ANNEXES

ANNEX 1: CATALOGUE OF BUSINESS PLANS

1. VULCANIZING BUSINESS

Sector: Service Industry Code: 1 Appropriate in all regions Date: July 2012

Business description

The business will offer tyre inflation, tyre-puncture mending services, and the sale of high-quality second-hand tyres.

Situation analysis

Vulcanizing business is full of small-scale service providers most of whom do not have modern equipment to operate with. Therefore, the suggested business can be expected to claim a larger part of the market if it introduces large-scale vulcanizing services powered by modern equipment and superior service.

Objectives

- To increase sales by 10% annually - To keep customer complaints at 1% annually

Operational space required Labour required

Roofed structure and shop for operations and storage of equipment and tools

Depending on the scale of activity. Initially the business should employ one vulcanizer and engage at least two apprentices

Key infrastructure/equipment/tools required Skills required

Tyre vulcanizing machine, steel ring remover, tyre balancing machine, tubeless tyre repair kit, silent and oil free compressor, mechanical jack, accessories

Vulcanizing skills

Type of permit required

Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly and Environmental Protection Agency

Potential customers Marketing plan

Auto users Suggested pricing strategy: The strategy of offering high quality services at moderate prices should be adopted and maintained for the next five years Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage

points to conspicuously display useful information about the vulcanizing services

- Personal selling by the promoter

Market needs

- Prompt service - High-quality vulcanizing services that

guarantee road safety

Estimated sales per month Risks involved

GH¢ 1500 - Increased competition - Power failure - Breakdown of machinery

Initial capital required Sources of capital

GH¢ 7750 - IOM reintegration grant - Returnee’s own contribution


107

Estimated cost of investment

Items required US$ FOB GH¢

Tyre vulcanizing machine 175 350

Steel ring remover 200 400

Tyre balancing machine 1200 2400

Tubeless tyre repair kit 100 200

Compressor 1000 2000

Mechanical jack 100 200

Accessories 100 200

Shop rental (one year) 600 1200

Working capital 400 800

Total 3875 7750


108

2. AUTO PARTS MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Commerce Code: 2 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail gear boxes, Tico engines, air-conditioner motors, fans, hydraulic motors and car accessories.

Situation analysis

Demand for auto parts is high in Ghana due to the increasing demand for second-hand cars in all the regions. In the case of Nkawkaw and its surrounding towns, for example, the ecological structure promotes the patronage of cars of the Korean brand Tico. The engineering makeup of Tico cars is believed to make them reliable for climbing mountains. Consequently, Tico cars account for approximately 80% of commercial saloon cars in Nkawkaw and its surrounding towns. Although this has resulted in high demand for Tico spare parts, not many auto spare parts dealers can be found in Nkawkaw, mainly because of the high capital requirements. Hence the suggested business.

Objectives



Shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ one shop attendant


Office desk, chair, computer set and accessories for record-keeping

Customer service skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly


Auto owners and investors Suggested pricing strategy: Initially, striving to keep prices low in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to promote the name of the business and to conspicuously display useful information about its services

Market needs

- High quality engines - Good customer service


GH¢ 8000 - Defective parts - Theft - Fire




Items required US$ GH¢

Shop 1500 3000

Working capital, computer and accessories 1750 3500

Total 3250 6500


109

3. BEAUTY PRODUCTS MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Commerce Code: 3 Appropriate in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail cosmetics, perfumes and hair care products (including artificial hair, etc.).

Situation analysis

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, women outnumber men in Ghana. Increasing female population, together with the changing lifestyles of women, have contributed to rising demand for beauty products in the country. This applies particularly to commercial centres of different regions, such as Nkawkaw in the Eastern region, where female inhabitants tend to be increasingly fashion-conscious. Capitalizing on this demand, the promoter could adopt an innovative approach to beauty products merchandising by leveraging his/her contacts with producers abroad and introducing high quality yet affordable beauty products into the local market.

Objectives

- To increase sales by 20% annually - To keep customer complaints at around 1% annually




Showcase and shelves Customer service skills


Metropolitan/Municipal /District Assembly


Ladies Suggested pricing strategy: Initially, striving to keep prices low in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to promote the name of the business and to conspicuously display useful information about its services

Market needs

- High quality beauty products - Good customer service


GH¢ 1000 - Defective products - Theft - Fire





Shop 1500 3000


Total 3250 6500


110

4. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Sector: Education Code: 4 Appropriate in Eastern and Western regions Date: July 2012


The school will offer primary and junior high school education.

Situation analysis

Demand for primary education has been rising in Ghana. Increasingly aware that education holds the key to future success of their children, currently even poor parents are doing all they can to enroll their children in schools. However, the state of private primary and junior high schools in the Eastern and Western regions reveals a gap for investors with better resources to fill. For example, in the Koforidua Asokore in the Eastern region, the NBA International and Computer Studies, one of the international schools, leaves much to be desired in terms of quality. The school’s facilities are inadequate, whereas most of its teachers lack necessary training or professional experience. The need of higher quality services in this educational subsector is also apparent in other parts of the Eastern and Western regions.

Objectives

- To increase intake by 10% annually - To keep customer complaints at around 1% annually


Building Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the school should employ three teachers


Desks, chairs, computer sets and accessories, book shelves, teaching aids for children, toddlers’ playing toolkits, kitchen

Teaching skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly and Ghana Education Service


Parents with children of school-going age Suggested pricing strategy: Initially, striving to keep prices low in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to promote the name of the school and to conspicuously display useful information about it

Market needs

- High quality teaching - Safety of kids - Friendly environment


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Accidental injury to pupils - Fire





Rent/infrastructure/tools 2500 5000


Total 3250 6500


111

5. AGROCHEMICALS MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Agricultural Industry Code: 5 Appropriate in Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Western regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail insecticides, fungicides, weedicide and other pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and soil treatment.

Situation analysis

Agriculture is the dominant economic activity in Ghana, employing about 70% of the economically active population in the regions. Crop and livestock production are the main agricultural activities in most rural communities. Commercial farms in the country produce pineapples, colanut, cocoa, coffee and palm oil on a large scale for export. As existing agrochemical retailers in many towns such as Akim Oda are unable to meet the high demand for their merchandise, the suggested business venture could help fill in the gap.

Objectives



Storage room Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ one shop attendant


Shelves Customer service skills




Farmers Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality agrochemicals at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage

points to conspicuously display useful information about the business


Market needs

- Efficacious agrochemicals - Affordable agrochemicals


GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition - Expiration of chemicals resulting in financial

losses - Defective products





Rent/infrastructure/tools 2500 5000


Total 3250 6500


112

6. BUSINESS CENTRE

Sector: Service Industry Code: 6 Appropriate in all regions Date: July 2012


The business will focus on the following business services: desktop printing, photocopying, scanning, and internet café.

Situation analysis

Demand for business services such as desktop printing and photocopying is high in all the regions, especially in cities such as Techiman – the Municipal capital and the commercial hub of the Brong Ahafo region. Nevertheless, most business service providers in Techiman, for example, do not have modern equipment to operate with and are thus limited to offering photocopying services on a small scale. A gap thus exists that can be filled by introducing first-class business services backed by modern equipment as well as competent and customer-friendly personnel.

Objectives

To increase sales by 20% annually and to keep customer complaints at 1% annually


Spacious room fitted with air conditioners and/or fans

Depending on the scale of activity. The business should employ at least two attendants with the necessary skills


Internet browsing setup, desks, swivel chairs, telephone, computers and accessories, scanners, multipurpose photocopy machines, comb-binding machine, cutters, standby generator, UPS machine

Microsoft Office and internet skills, customer service skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality business services at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- High quality services - Prompt service - Well-ventilated internet café


GH¢ 6000 - Increased competition - Unreliable internet connection and/or power

interruptions; breakdown of equipment


GH¢ 6500 IOM reintegration grant and returnee’s own contribution



Office, fixtures and fittings 1500 3000

Computers, accessories and other 1000 2000

Photocopy machine 500 1000


Total 3250 6500


113

7. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Commerce Code: 7 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Ashanti regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail cement, iron rods, blocks, binding wires, nails and other construction materials.

Situation analysis

Accommodation is in high demand in the Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Ashanti regions. As a result, a lot of construction work is in progress in the developing areas of cities such as Techiman – the Municipal capital and the commercial hub of the Brong Ahafo region, – where the establishment of university campuses has further contributed to the trend. The existing construction material retailers are unable to meet the ever growing demand for their merchandise. Moreover, the success of businesses in the area significantly depends on retailers’ ability to offer free of charge delivery of the purchased materials to their clients’ construction sites. The proposed business will thus rent a truck for the transportation of construction materials, which many of the existing retailers cannot afford.

Objectives



Container Depending on the scale of activity. The business should employ at least one attendant


Leased KIA truck for delivering cement and iron rods to construction sites





Builders and contractors Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality construction materials at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- Free delivery of goods to destination of buyers

- Prompt service


GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition - Theft - Breakdown of vehicle


GH¢ 6000 - IOM reintegration grant - Additionally, if required: returnee’s own

contribution



Container 1000 2000

Working capital and truck rental 2000 4000

Total 3000 6000


114

8. MOVIE AND MUSIC CENTRE

Sector: Commerce Code: 8 Appropriate in the Eastern region Date: July 2012


The business will retail local and foreign movies and musical records.

Situation analysis

The introduction of movies in local languages has generated considerable interest among Ghanaians, especially among the illiterate and semiliterate ones. For instance, Akan movies have been increasingly screened on TV and in cinemas. The growth of music industry, for its part, can be accounted for by Ghanaians’ love of music. As a result of these simultaneous trends, movie and music merchandizing has become a booming business in Nkawkaw and its surrounding areas, for instance. However, most of the movie and music shops in Nkawkaw are into small-scale merchandizing. The promoter of the suggested business could thus adopt an innovative approach by opening a large movie and music centre where smaller retailers could also buy movies and musical records for re-selling.

Objectives



Shop Depending on the scale of activity. The business should employ at least one attendant


Showcase, shelves, and sound system with loud speakers





Movie and music lovers, small scale retailers Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality movies and musical records at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- Interesting movies - Melodious music


GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition - Theft



contribution



Shop and facilities 1000 2000


Total 3000 6000


115

9. SACHET WATER PRODUCTION

Sector: Manufacturing Industry Code: 9 Appropriate in Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions Date: July 2012


The business will produce sachet water.

Situation analysis

Sachet water production is a business driven by three main factors: necessity, population growth and affordability. For instance, it has been observed that population growth has resulted in corresponding increase in demand for water in New Juabeng and Sunyani municipalities. Due to complaints related to the operational practices employed and the quality of sachet water offered by a number of local producers, some people, especially the better-off, have resorted to bottled water. However, as bottled water is more expensive (important consideration especially for families), a venture offering sachet water produced, packaged, stored and distributed under strict hygienic conditions is likely to be very successful in the local market. It is this gap that the proposed business seeks to fill.

Objectives

- To increase sales by 10% annually - To keep customer complaints at 1% annually - To adopt environmentally friendly business practices


Production facility The business should employ one production manager with the requisite knowledge and experience in sachet water production, one laboratory technician/technologist, three production hands, one accounts officer, one accounts clerk/secretary and one driver


Borehole, overhead tanks, power supply and distillation system for production; leased KIA truck for distribution

Sachet water production skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly, Food and Drugs Board and Ghana Standards Board


General public Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High-quality water - High production standards


GH¢ 10,000 - Increased competition - Contamination of water - Accidents while transporting sachets of water

to distribution outlets - Power failure




116



Production facility and equipment 2500 5000

Leased truck (GH¢ 200 per month) 1200 2400


Total 4450 8900


117

10. SATELLITE DEALERSHIP

Sector: Service Industry Code: 10 Appropriate in the Eastern region Date: July 2012


The business will sell satellite dishes such as DSTV and MultiTV, as well as offer their installation and repair services.

Situation analysis

A growing interest in satellite television and an increasing demand for satellite dishes in households has been observed in Ghana. In Akim Oda, for instance, the DSTV decoder has been in high demand, especially among the football fraternity, because of its Supersport channel which broadcasts matches from major leagues such as the Premiership in the United Kingdom, La Liga in Spain and Serie A in Italy. MultiTV digibox, a satellite television decoder recently introduced by the Multimedia Group of Companies, has also become a sought-after commodity. This notwithstanding, few centres selling satellite dishes and offering their installation and repair services can be found in Akim Oda. The promoter of the suggested business could take advantage of this gap.

Objectives



Shop The business should employ two technicians


Satellite dish installation and repair tools Satellite dish installation and repair skills, customer service skills




Satellite users Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality services at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

High-quality service


GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition - Theft - Growing popularity of satellite television sets





Shop and tools 1800 3600


Total 3300 6600


118

11. DRINKING SPOT

Sector: Commerce Code: 11 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will sell all kinds of drinks, including beer (Guinness, Star, Gulder, Golden Spark), alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine, and soft drinks (Coca Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite, etc.). The bar will also stock locally produced drinks such as Pusher Gin Bitters, Alomo Bitters and Woba Ada Anaa, among others.

Situation analysis

Bar business is common and generally profitable in the Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions. However, in Brekum in the Brong Ahafo region, for instance, most of the existing bars target the masses and focus on selling cheap local drinks such as akpeteshie (known for its high intoxicating power and low cost). As a result, they are unattractive to the better-off members of the society. The promoter of the suggested business could take advantage of this gap by introducing a modern and well-furnished bar that would offer high quality drinks (both foreign and locally produced) as well as superior customer service.

Objectives



Purpose facility Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ at least two attendants


Deep freezers, refrigerators, sound system with loud speakers, tables and chairs, sets of glasses





General public Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs



GH¢ 10,000 - Increased competition - Theft - Breakages



contribution



Purpose facility and equipment 1500 3000


Total 3000 6000


119

12. PLUMBING MATERIALS MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Commerce Code: 12 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail plumbing pipes, sets of water closets, washing sinks and bath tubs, as well as other plumbing materials.

Situation analysis

Population growth and the increasing demand for accommodation in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Eastern regions has triggered the rise in demand for plumbing supplies and hardware by home builders, which the existing plumbing material retailers have been unable to meet, especially in fast developing areas such as the Techiman Municipality. Hence, the proposed business. The promoter could gain an added advantage by leasing a minivan for offering delivery services to customers.

Objectives



Shop (preferably sited close to a developing area where the demand for plumbing materials is likely to be high)

The business should employ one shop attendant


Leased minivan for operations Customer service skills




Builders Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs



GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition - Accident while transporting the materials

- Theft - Fire



contribution



Shop 1000 2000

Working capital and rental of minivan 1500 3000

Total 2500 5000


120

13. CAR CLEANING SERVICES

Sector: Service Industry Code: 13 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer car body cleaning and polishing and car engine cleaning services.

Situation analysis

Car washing business is in high demand in the Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions due to both, the increasing number of cars and the fact that many of the roads remain untarred. However, the existing service providers are not well equipped to deliver the quality desired by auto users. For instance, neither of the three car wash operators in Brekum has modern equipment to operate with; one of them has not even fitted the operational site or casted the operational floor with concrete (hence the likelihood of washed cars getting dirty again while still at the washing bay). As a result, except for emergency cases, most car users in Brekum prefer washing their cars in Sunyani or Kumasi where the services are better. The proposed business can thus be expected to claim a significant part of the local market if it introduces a well-constructed washing bay manned by competent and motivated personnel.

Objectives



Open space fitted with pavement blocks and platforms; office for storage of machines and tools

Depending on the scale of operations. Initially the business should employ at least three persons


Hoovers, portable water pumping machine, high pressure washer gun, steam washing machine, car body and engine cleaning products

Car washing skills




Auto users Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High-quality service - Prompt service


GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition

- Theft - Damage to cars in the course of washing


GH¢ 6500 IOM reintegration grant and returnee’s own contribution



Washing facility and equipment 3000 6000


Total 3250 6500


121

14. HAIRDRESSING SALON

Sector: Service Industry Code: 14 Appropriate in Ashanti, Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions Date: July 2012


Hair care services for women, including hair washing, retouching and styling. Manicure and pedicure will be done on request for an extra fee.

Situation analysis

Five years ago, the hairdressing industry in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions was dominated by small-scale businesses set up with very little capital. Recently, however, the hairdressers have begun to invest more in modern specialized equipment. Competition has grown due to the existence of high level substitutes in the industry. Thus the proposed hairdressing salon could lead the market if it introduces more specialized packages and focuses on customer service by, for instance, keeping a database of customer information (their hair type, distinct needs, etc.).

Objectives



Shop with tiled floor Depending on the scale of activity. The salon should employ a supervisor who is a professional hairdresser with a minimum of two years of experience in the industry and three apprentices


Hair tonguing machines, hair drying machine, styling chairs, manicure and pedicure table and seats. In addition, good drainage system is required to carry out the waste water so that it does not pollute river bodies with chemicals

Hairdressing skills




Women Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality services at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- Professional hairdressing service - Prompt service


GH¢ 1000 - Increased competition - Power failure and equipment breakdown


GH¢ 6320 IOM reintegration grant. Additionally, if required: returnee’s own contribution



Renting and furnishing of shop 2200 4400

Hair drying machines 660 1320


Total 3160 6320


122

15. BARBERING SHOP

Sector: Service Industry Code: 15 Appropriate in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will provide high quality and clean haircut for men and women, and barbering services for men (beard and mustache trimming). Dreadlocks will be done on request.

Situation analysis

Five years ago, the barbering industry in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions was dominated by small-scale businesses set up with very little capital. Recently, however, the barbers have begun to invest more in modern specialized equipment. Competition has grown due to the existence of high level substitutes in the industry. Thus the proposed barbering shop could lead the market if it introduces more specialized packages and focuses on customer service by, for instance, keeping a database of customer information (including their hair type, distinct needs, etc.).

Objectives

To increase sales by 10% annually and to keep customer complaints at around 1% annually




Styling chairs, barbering tools and accessories; office desk, chair, computer set and accessories for record-keeping

Barbering skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Initially, striving to keep prices low in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality barbering services - Safe barbering


GH¢ 1000 - Increased competition - Power failure - Theft or fire



contribution




Barber’s haircut machines 120 240

Sterilizers (2) 150 300

Seats and accessories 300 600


Total 2470 4940


123

16. RESTAURANT BUSINESS

Sector: Commerce Code: 16 Appropriate in all regions, except Western Accra Date: July 2012


The business will offer continental as well as local dishes, pastries and drinks to its customers. Freshly squeezed fruit juices will be served as part of the meals, other soft drinks will also be available.

Situation analysis

The food industry has been a vibrant and vital engine of Ghana’s economic growth since most Ghanaians earn only to spend on food. However, as competition is high in the catering sector, the proposed business should adopt an innovative strategy to gain entry into the market and to effectively differentiate itself from other restaurants. Introducing fruit and freshly made fruit juices into the menu seems promising, especially in view of the increasing number of health promotions in the media.

Objectives

To increase sales by 20% annually and to keep customer complaints at around 1% annually


Large shop with tiled floor and two basic partitions

Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ a professional chef with a minimum of five years of working experience in the industry; two cooks and at least five kitchen assistants


Gas cylinders, gas cooker with oven, microwave, cauldrons, saucepans, other kitchenware, tables and chairs. In addition, good drainage system is required to carry out the waste water so that it does not pollute river bodies

Cooking skills, customer service skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly, Food and Drugs Board, Ghana Standards Board, and Ghana Tourist Board


General public Suggested pricing strategy: Initially, striving to keep prices low in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to promote the name of the restaurant and to conspicuously display useful information about it

Market needs

- Nutritious and well balanced diets - Prompt customer service - Wide variety of meals


GH¢ 12,500 - Defective raw materials - Food poisoning or contamination - Power failure - Gas shortage

- Fire - Increased competition




124




Gas stove and ovens 200 400

Gas cylinders 100 200

Cauldrons (2) 100 200

Other utensils 350 700


Total 3200 6400


125

17. METAL WORKS

Sector: Service Industry Code: 17 Appropriate in Ashanti, Eastern and Greater Accra regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer to its customers the welding of light duty metals to repair parts of vehicles that have been involved in accidents. In addition, the business will produce fixtures such as burglar proof doors and windows and metal gates.

Situation analysis

The metal works sector in Ghana has mainly served the mechanical engineering and construction industries. For example, in the Ashanti region, especially in the Mampong municipality, it plays a special role as the services it provides to many SMEs are cheaper compared to those sourced from Kumasi, the regional capital. The sector is thus very vibrant and potentially profitable, especially if the business is extended to other towns around Mampong.

Objectives

To increase intake by 10% annually and to keep customer complaints at around 1% annually


Large space with a shed for storing equipment Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ one professional welder with a minimum of two years working experience and engage at least two apprentices


Gas cylinder, welding machine, protective gear

Welding skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Initially, striving to keep fees low in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to promote the name of the business and to conspicuously display useful information about its services

Market needs

- High quality welding services - Friendly service


GH¢ 1250 - Increased competition - Power failure; gas shortage - Fire





Renting and furnishing of space 1450 2900

Welding machine and accessories 1000 2000

Gas cylinders 100 200


Total 2750 5500


126

18. PHOTO AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

Sector: Service Industry Code: 18 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer high quality photo and video production services to the general public.

Situation analysis

Most of the existing photo and video production businesses in the Kumasi metropolis, for instance, are small-scale and do not have modern equipment to operate with, which affects the quality of their work. The photo and video production market, however, has a lot of potential for expansion. The suggested business can be expected to claim a significant part of the market if it is powered by modern equipment and offers highly professional services, particularly in editing and streaming.

Objectives





Digital photo cameras, video cameras, microphones for recording, computers and printers

Photo and video production skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality photo and video production services at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- High quality photo and video production - Affordable price of services


GH¢ 4000 - Increased competition - Defective equipment (e.g. cameras)





Photo and video cameras 1400 2800

Shop and furnishing 1200 2400

Computers and accessories 800 1600


Total 3600 7200


127

19. TELEPHONE CARDS, PHONE AND ACCESSORIES RETAILING

Sector: Commerce Code: 19 Appropriate in all regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail telephone cards of all the telecommunications companies in Ghana as well as phones and accessories of as many different brands as possible.

Situation analysis

In all the regions, telephone call card, phone & accessories retailing is very competitive as there are many shops selling similar products. Thus, to have an advantage, the suggested venture should be able to offer as wide a variety of merchandise as possible as well as to ensure that the phones and accessories it sells are genuine (this being the major concern in the phone and accessories retailing business).

Objectives



Shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ at least one attendant


Shelves and showcase Selling skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality phones and accessories at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- High quality phones and accessories - Prompt service



- Power interruptions - Theft or fire



contribution



Shop, fixtures and fittings 1200 2400

Computers and accessories 400 800


Total 3100 6200


128

20. BREAD BAKING

Sector: Manufacturing Industry Code: 20 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Ashanti regions Date: July 2012


The business will produce, retail and wholesale bread and pastries (including savoury, e.g. meat-stuffed, pastries).

Situation analysis

Despite the high and ever-increasing demand for bread and pastries, baking business in the regions is dominated by small-scale operators. Thus the proposed venture should use modern equipment to engage in large-scale bread and pastry production for both, retail and wholesale.

Objectives



Roofed structure and shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ at least three people


Gas and mud ovens, troughs, and dough mixer Baking and pastry skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food and Drugs Board


General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality bread and pastries at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- High quality bread and pastries - Hygienic environment



- Power failure - Contamination/decomposition of pastries


GH¢ 6600 - IOM reintegration grant and returnee’s own contribution



Ovens 1000 2000

Dough mixer 1000 2000

Baking pans 200 400

Shop rental (GH¢ 100 per month) 600 1200


Total 3300 6600


129

21. SHOE AND SANDAL MANUFACTURING

Sector: Manufacturing Industry Code: 21 Appropriate in the Ashanti region Date: July 2012


The business will manufacture genuine leather shoes and sandals, synthetic leather shoes and sandals, as well as offer shoe and sandal repair services.

Situation analysis

Shoe and sandal manufacturing in the Obuasi Municipality, for instance, is dominated by small-scale businesses most of which do not have modern equipment to operate with. Access to affordable high quality leather is another challenge to the existing manufacturers. As a result, their products are slightly more expensive than the imported substitutes on the market, which serves as a deterrent to local customers. However, customers show interest in locally manufactured footwear because of the possibility of customization. The suggested business could thus claim a significant part of the market if it introduces large-scale shoe and sandal manufacturing powered by reliable supply of quality materials, modern automated equipment and professional finishing of products.

Objectives



Roofed structure set-up for shoe and sandal manufacturing and repair

Depending on the scale of activity. The business should employ professional shoe manufacturers and apprentices


Sewing machine, filing machine, clamp, scissors, hammer, and needles

Shoe and sandal manufacturing and selling skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Standards Board, etc.


General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality shoes and sandals at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- High quality shoes and sandals - Affordable prices


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Power failure

- Theft Initial capital required Sources of capital


contribution


130



Machinery, equipment and tools 550 1100

Rental of space 1200 2400


Total 2050 4100


131

22. IT EQUIPMENT MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Commerce Code: 22 Appropriate in Ashanti and Western regions Date: July 2012


The business will retail high quality modern IT equipment ranging from desktop to laptop computers and their accompanying peripherals.

Situation analysis

The majority of IT shops in Kumasi, for instance, are small, with only a handful of merchandizers operating on a medium to large scale. Access to reliable sources of high quality IT equipment supplies would give the suggested business a competitive advantage since its target customers are quality conscious.

Objectives



Shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ at least two attendants


Apart from a roofed and shelved shop for showcasing and a storage room for safekeeping of stock, the business does not require any special equipment

Selling skills




IT users Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality IT equipment at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality IT equipment - Affordable prices



- Power failure - Defective equipment

- Theft Initial capital required Sources of capital




Rental and furnishing of shop 1200 2400


Total 4200 8400


132

23. ELECTRICAL MERCHANDIZING

Sector: Commerce Code: 23 Appropriate in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions Date: July 2012


The business will sell high quality electrical products – bulbs, cables, plugs, sockets, switches, fuse boxes, bulb holders, soldering irons, TV antennae, extension boards, etc. – as well as screw drivers, pliers, etc.

Situation analysis

Existing electrical merchandizing businesses in some cities in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions mostly operate on a small-scale basis. For instance, in the Konongo Municipality in the Ashanti region, electrical merchandizing businesses are small-scale, which compells many contractors and consumers to buy from Kumasi. A medium- to large-scale electrical merchandizing business that stocks high-quality but affordable electrical materials in the Municipality is therefore likely to be a profitable venture.

Objectives





Display shelves Selling skills




Users of electrical equipment Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality electrical products at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality customer service - High quality electrical products



- Defective products - Theft - Fire



contribution



Shop 1200 2400


Total 2200 4400


133

24. DRESSMAKING

Sector: Fashion Industry Code: 24 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo, Greater Accra and Ashanti regions Date: July 2012


The business will make women’s dresses and dress amends.

Situation analysis

Dressmaking business in the regions is dominated by small-scale operators most of whom lack not only modern equipment but also artistic skills. As a result, many people resort to second-hand clothing. Therefore, the suggested business can be expected to claim a significant part of the market if it introduces large-scale dressmaking powered by modern equipment and superior design skills.

Objectives



Shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should engage at least two apprentices


Sewing machine, pressing iron, scissors, knitting machine, screw drivers, and tape measure

Dressmaking skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering moderately priced fashion products Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality service - Affordable prices



- Theft - Power failure





Machinery and accessories 2170 4340


Rental of shop (one year) 1200 2400

Total 3870 7740


134

25. CARPENTRY AND FURNITURE WORKS

Sector: Artistry Industry Code: 25 Appropriate in Ashanti and Western regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer office furniture and fittings, home furniture and fittings, and construction services such as building kiosks, roofing and ceiling.

Situation analysis

Carpentry and furniture making in Mampong, for instance, is dominated by small-scale businesses most of which do not have modern equipment to operate with. They resort to hand tools and manual labour which accounts for low productivity and poor finishing of products. As a result, the industry faces severe competition from foreign imports. However, there is a possibility for the proposed business to claim a larger part of the market if it introduces large-scale carpentry services and improved product finishing.

Objectives



Roofed structure and shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should engage at least three apprentices


Materials, partly finished and finished products (wood, fabrics, etc.) and key equipment, including sand paper machine, tape measure, scissors, chisel, hammer, screw drivers, saw, planes, clamps, pry bars or nail pullers, sewing machine, hand drill, and file

Carpentry and furniture making skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering moderately priced carpentry products and furniture Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality service - High quality carpentry products and

furniture


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Shortage of wood - Theft or fire



contribution



Machinery and tools 859 1718

Rent 1200 2400


Total 2559 5118


135

26. AUTO MECHANIC SHOP

Sector: Service Industry Code: 26 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer dependable and responsive auto repair, car part changing and upgrading services.

Situation analysis

Auto mechanic industry in the regions is dominated by small-scale businesses most of which do not have modern equipment to operate with. The market for auto mechanic services has the potential for further expansion due to the increasing demand for traveling services and the growing use of locomotives. By introducing high quality services coupled with good customer care, the proposed business can claim a large share of this market.

Objectives



Open space fitted with pavement blocks and platforms; office for storage of machines and tools

Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ at least three people


Spanners, pliers, jack, screw drivers Auto mechanic skills




Auto users Suggested pricing strategy: Offering moderately priced auto mechanic services Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality service - Prompt service


GH¢ 2500 - Increased competition - Fire

- Theft - Damage to cars in the course of servicing



contribution



Machinery and equipment 443 886

Rent 1200 2400


Total 1743 3486


136

27. ALUMINIUM WORKS

Sector: Light Manufacturing Industry Code: 27 Appropriate in Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Ashanti regions Date: July 2012


The business will produce first class aluminum fixtures and fittings such as showcase containers and shelves, glass doors and windows and their frames, pulpits, etc.

Situation analysis

Aluminium works in the Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Ashanti regions are mostly performed by small-scale operators. High cost of aluminum profiles not only makes it difficult for craftsmen to produce samples of their products for showcasing, but also affects their pricing strategies. As a result, their finished products are relatively expensive, which in turn, affects the demand. However, this sector of the market has potential for expansion as aluminum products are likely to increasingly replace their wooden substitutes due to forestry depletion from excessive timber cutting and related environmental concerns.

Objectives



Open structure with or without roof for operations; shop for safe storage of machines and materials

Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ at least three people


Drilling machine, cutting machine, milling machine, clamp, hammer, hack saws, screwdrivers and pliers

Aluminum fabrication skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering moderately priced aluminium products Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- High quality service - Prompt service


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Theft or fire

- Breakages Initial capital required Sources of capital


contribution



Machinery and equipment 941 1882

Rent 1200 2400


Total 2641 5282


137

28. CLEARING AGENCY

Sector: Service Industry Code: 28 Appropriate in Western and Greater Accra regions Date: July 2012


The business will specialize in clearing goods from the Tema and/or Takoradi ports.

Situation analysis

A number of importers have been complaining about delays in clearing their goods and extortion by some clearing agents, as well as the sometimes generally cumbersome process of clearing goods from the ports. Returnees with the requisite skills, experience and interest could thus be advised to start the suggested business in order to fill this gap.

Objectives

- To provide efficient freight forwarding and clearing of various volumes of cargo - To increase sales by 5% annually - To keep customer complaints at 1% annually


Office The business should employ at least two people with at least two years of experience in port clearing services



Reading, writing and selling skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority


Importers and exporters Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: Traditional advertising, public relations, internet marketing, personal selling, and direct marketing

Market needs

- Prompt and reliable service - Transparent transactions


GH¢ 12,000 - Default by customers - Increased competition - Fire





Office 2000 4000

Working capital, computer and accessories 1500 3000

Total 3500 7000


138

29. HIRING OF FARMING INPUTS

Sector: Service Industry Code: 29 Appropriate in Greater Accra and Western regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer for hiring farming implements such as plough and harrow.

Situation analysis

Limited access to farm inputs, such as tractors, ploughs, and harrows, necessary to engage in commercial or large-scale agriculture is among the key problems identified by most farmers in Ghana. Together with the many other difficulties and constraints that the sector faces, it is arguably one of the main reasons for low agricultural productivity. Returnees with the requisite skills, experience and interest could thus be advised to start the suggested business to fill this gap.

Objectives



Office and storage room The business should employ at least one person with two years of experience in the use of farming implements


Plough, harrow Selling skills




Farmers Suggested pricing strategy: Any of the following three pricing methods should be used as/when the need arises to achieve marketing objectives: - Cost-plus pricing, i.e. pricing based on the total cost of the service plus a desired profit of no less than 15% of the cost; - Price setting based on marginal analysis evaluating both market demand and supply; - Price setting based on competitive market conditions.

Market needs

- Prompt service - High quality agricultural inputs


GH¢ 3000 - Breakdown of implements - Increased competition - Theft or fire





Plough 500 1000

Harrow 500 1000


Total 2000 4000


139

30. HOUSING AGENCY

Sector: Service Industry Code: 30 Appropriate in the Greater Accra region Date: July 2012


The business will serve as an intermediary between current and prospective homeowners, home sellers, and landlords on the one side, and home buyers and tenants on the other, by providing high quality property sale and letting services.

Situation analysis

The proposed business will offer home buyers and potential tenants the opportunity to buy or rent a room without any hustle. Landlords will also be assisted to find potential tenants and buyers in the region.

Objectives

- To facilitate the process of property sale/purchase and letting/rental for clients by offering professional and tailor-made services

- To increase the customer base and thereby to enable a higher proportion of the regional population to enjoy the financial, emotional and psychological benefits associated with home ownership


Office Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ one office assistant



Selling skills




Tenants and landlords Suggested pricing strategy: Moderate commission should be charged to attract and retain customers Suggested promotional strategy: Traditional advertising, public relations, internet marketing, personal selling, and direct marketing

Market needs

- Prompt and reliable service - High quality accommodation


GH¢ 2500 - Default by customers - Increased competition



contribution



Personal computer 250 500


Rent (one year) 1200 2400

Total 2450 4900


140

31. IT SUPPORT SERVICES

Sector: Commerce Code: 31 Appropriate in the Greater Accra region Date: July 2012


The business will offer computer programme installation, troubleshooting and repair as well as a host of hardware and software support services to organizations, corporate institutions and individuals in Accra.

Situation analysis

ICT is an important part of today’s global economy. In Ghana, an emerging economy with a rapidly growing demand for ICT, efforts of both the private sector and the government are required to help bridge the digital divide and to accelerate the country’s development. It is evident in Ghana that poor ICT infrastructure, coupled with weak policy and regulatory framework and limited human resources, has resulted in inadequate access to affordable information technologies and their support services. The suggested business could help fill in this gap.

Objectives



Office The business should employ one person with at least two years of relevant experience


Antistatic strap, tool case, multimeter, blower machine

Computer hardware skills




Computer users Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality services at moderate prices in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Traditional advertising, public relations, internet marketing, personal selling, and direct marketing

Market needs

- Tailor-made services to organizations, corporate institutions and individuals

- Affordable services - Prompt and reliable service delivery


GH¢ 5000 - Default by customers - Increased competition - Fire



contribution



Antistatic strap 50 100

Tool case 150 300

Multimeter 300 600

Blower machine 50 100


Total 1550 3100


141

32. SELLING OF KENTE CLOTH AND WAX PRINTS



The business will sell a range of kente and wax print designs.

Situation analysis

The use of traditional kente cloths for various occasions is one of the features of the Ghanaian culture. It has been further boosted by the “National Friday Wear” campaign launched by the government of Ghana several years ago to promote made-in-Ghana cloths. Although the demand for made-in-Ghana cloths including kente is high in the Greater Accra region, the supply side has so far failed to meet it: the very few operators in the market do not have the skills necessary to offer the sought-after modern and trendy designs. This has resulted in a gap that returnees with the requisite experience and interest could fill.

Objectives

- Providing customers with high-quality cloths at competitive prices - Delivering on time and demonstrating commitment to customers


Shop Depending on the scale of activity. The business should employ at least one shop attendant


Showcase and shelves Selling skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality merchandize at moderate prices in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Billboards, brochure, radio and internet advertising

Market needs

- Prompt and reliable service - High quality woven kente cloth and wax

prints


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Theft or fire



contribution





Total 3000 6000


142

33. SCRAP DEALER



The business will buy burned cars, dumped old cars, non-functional electronic devices such as refrigerators, fans, irons, computers, and other metallic items such as iron rods, gas cylinders or cooking utensils for recycling or re-selling to scrap exporters.

Situation analysis

The ever growing demand for vehicles and electronic devices of the latest fashion such as flat screen TV sets or super fast computers has resulted in heaps of obsolete gadgets being dumped along rivers and beyond. However, these devices can be recycled for productive use. Hence the suggested business.

Objectives



Open space The business should employ at least two people to search for scrap metal or its suppliers


Wheelbarrow Selling skills




Scrap exporters Suggested pricing strategy: Attractive prices in order to penetrate the market Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- Prompt and reliable supply - Attractive prices


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Power failure



contribution



Wheelbarrow 100 200


Total 1600 3200


143

34. TRAVEL AGENCY

Sector: Service Industry Code: 34 Appropriate in the Greater Accra region Date: July 2012


The business will specialize in individual, group and corporate travel services.

Situation analysis

The Ministry of Tourism of Ghana has been aiming to increase the number of persons visiting the country for leisure, business or other purposes from 584 in 2004 to 100,000 by the end 2012. This has resulted in an opportunity for private businesses to support the Ministry in its efforts by providing high quality travel services to the growing number of visitors.

Objectives

- To provide customers with insightful and responsive services that meet their expectations - To increase sales by 5% annually


Office The business should employ two technicians


Computer, mobile phone, modem Customer service skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality services at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: Placing posters and billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

High quality services


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Fire





Rental of shop 1500 3000

Computer 250 500

Mobile phone 100 200

Modem 150 300


Total 4000 8000


144

35. CASSAVA PROCESSING

Sector: Agro Processing Code: 35 Appropriate in Western and Greater Accra regions Date: July 2012


The business will process cassava into gari and starch for both local consumption and export.

Situation analysis

Village level agro-processing activities account for the preservation and distribution of the bulk of Ghana’s agricultural produce, playing a major role in the post harvest food system. These activities constitute the main occupation of rural women. Age-old traditional techniques employed in the processing of root and tuber crops are simple and convenient for small scale production. Equipment used for the traditional methods is cheaper than that required for modern high technology processes. However, these traditional technologies are low yielding, time consuming, labour intensive, and give products of relatively low quality. Hence setting up a processing facility equipped with modern technology would allow returnees to claim a large share of the market.

Objectives

- To provide high quality and safe foodstuffs at affordable prices to customers - To serve all second cycle institutions in the region by the year 2015


Open space The business should employ three people, preferably with some knowledge in gari and starch processing.


Processing machine, sauce pan, gas cooker

Gari processing skills




Second cycle institutions Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: - Radio and press advertising - Sales promotion through event sponsorship;

distribution of souvenirs (e.g. T-shirts, key holders) to existing and potential customers; performance based awards to staff when necessary

- Personal selling to individuals, corporate institutions, churches, social clubs, etc.

- Effective public relations to build a positive image of the company’s products (gari) in relation to substitutes available on the market and to create healthy customer relationships

Market needs

- High quality gari - Affordable prices


GH¢ 12,500 - Increased competition, including from imported cereals

- Theft - Change in customers’ eating habits


145



contribution



Processing machine 700 1400

Sauce pan 500 1000

Gas cooker 100 200

Accessories 200 400


Total 3000 6000


146

36. CLEANING SERVICES

Sector: Service Industry Code: 36 Appropriate in Western and Greater Accra regions Date: July 2012


Using state of the art technology, the business will offer a wide range of professional cleaning services, including weekly and bi-weekly residential cleaning services (with all the necessary equipment and supplies) for private clients; daily cleaning and periodic thorough cleaning services for corporate and institutional clients. The business will specialize in carpet and upholstery cleaning.

Situation analysis

Increasingly busy lifestyles, particularly of residents of big cities, have resulted in the ever growing demand for both residential and commercial cleaning services. People prefer to employ the services of professional cleaners in order to be sure the work is done properly and their property is looked after responsibly. Gaps still exist in the market that the suggested business could fill.

Objectives

- To help ensure a safe and healthy working environment of clients - To leave a mark of quality in the domestic, organizational and industrial setups that the

business will serve


Office The business should employ three cleaners with at least one year of experience in cleaning services and engage additional temporary staff when necessary


Detergents, brushes, buckets, soap, and hover

Cleaning skills




Private clients, organizations and institutions Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: - Website to provide useful information on the

services to existing and potential clients - Leaflets, posters, possibly also radio

advertising - Personal selling by the promoter

Market needs

- Prompt service - High-quality and reliable services that

ensure a safe and healthy working environment



- Theft - Accidental damage to customers’ property

while cleaning - Damage to cleaning tools



contribution


147




Hover 200 400

Cleaning brushes 100 200

Detergent 100 200

Soap 100 200

Other accessories 100 200


Total 2600 5200


148

37. BOUTIQUE

Sector: Commerce Code: 37 Appropriate in Greater Accra and Western regions Date: July 2012


The boutique will sell a wide range of designer clothing matching the taste of Ghanaians. The items will be imported from London, Paris and/or the USA.

Situation analysis

Clothes retailing in Takoradi and Tema metropolis, for instance, is a lucrative business due to high demand. However, most of the existing boutiques sell substandard items. The proposed business could help fill in this gap.

Objectives

- To offer high quality products while demonstrating commitment to clients - To increase profit by 10% annually


Shop The business should employ one shop attendant to support the owner/promoter


Display shelves

Selling and customer care skills




General public Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality merchandize at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: To be based on the target market’s psychographic and behavioristic characteristics

Market needs

High-quality, durable and affordable clothing



- Theft - Fire



contribution



Display items 2000 4000


Total 3000 6000


149

38. HANDICRAFTS

Sector: Craft Industry Code: 38 Appropriate in the Greater Accra region Date: July 2012


The business will produce woven baskets for sale.

Situation analysis

Crafts businesses have a lot of potential in Ada, for instance. However, the majority of local craftsmen do not have enough capital to take advantage of the existing demand for their products. In fact, some of them can only afford to produce one basket at a time for sale. Hence there is a possibility for returnees to claim a large share of the market by employing modern craft making techniques.

Objectives

- To improve customer satisfaction - To contribute to the improvement of export performance of the crafts industry


Shop The business should employ at least two apprentices and one shop attendant


Saw, cutlass, knife

Basket weaving and selling skills




Tourists Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: - Billboards, posters - Personal selling by the promoter

Market needs

High-quality, durable and stylish local crafts


GH¢ 2500 - Increased competition - Default by customers

- Theft or fire Initial capital required Sources of capital


contribution




Saw 50 100

Knife 10 20

Cutlass and other accessories 100 200


Total 2160 4320


150

39. FOOD CROPS DISTRIBUTION



The business will operate as an intermediary between hoteliers and farmers in the Greater Accra region.

Situation analysis

Food crops spend a long time in the supply chain before getting to their final destination. In some cases, locating the buyers and sellers of food crops also poses a significant challenge to famers and hoteliers, respectively. Returnees could thus take an advantage of the existing gap by setting up a distribution business that would serve as an intermediary between farmers and hoteliers in the region.

Objectives

- To ensure food safety in the food crop supply chain - To keep customer complaints at 1% annually


Shop The business should employ one assistant


Vehicle

Selling skills and driving skills




Hoteliers and farmers Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: Effective personal selling by the promoter

Market needs

- Fresh and high quality food crops - Reliable service


GH¢ 7500 - Food spoilage - Vehicle breakdown





Rental of vehicle (one year) 2400 4800


Total 3400 6800


151

40. LAUNDRY SERVICES

Sector: Service Industry Code: 40 Appropriate in Greater Accra and Western regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer laundry and dry cleaning services to its clients, primarily targeting the mining population.

Situation analysis

Due to long working hours, mine workers generally have little time for domestic chores and thus tend to rely heavily on laundry services. Ironically, however, in the mining communities in the Western region, for instance, not only there are few laundry service providers but they also do not have modern equipment to effectively meet the increasing demand. This has created a gap that returnees with the requisite skills, experience and interest could fill.

Objectives



Shop Depending on the scale of activity. Initially the business should employ at least two attendants


Industrial washing machines and pressing irons

Customer care skills




General public, mine workers Suggested pricing strategy: Offering high quality laundry services at moderate prices Suggested promotional strategy: - Placing posters and billboards at vantage



Market needs

- High quality laundry services - Prompt service


GH¢ 8000 - Damage to clothing while washing or ironing - Increased competition

- Theft - Breakdown of machinery


GH¢ 11,400 - IOM reintegration grant - Returnee’s own contribution




Washing machine 3000 6000

Iron and steam generator iron 700 1400


Total 5700 11,400


152

41. SUPERMARKET

Sector: Commerce Code: 41 Appropriate in Greater Accra and Western regions Date: July 2012


The supermarket will offer for sale a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods, including toiletries (e.g. soaps, teeth cleaning products, shaving products), cosmetics, detergents and other non-durables such as glassware, bulbs, batteries, paper and plastic goods (e.g. buckets).

Situation analysis

In smaller towns of the regions, supermarkets with a wide selection of products are usually few. This makes shopping time-consuming and burdensome for local residents. The proposed business would help to address this problem by becoming a one-stop supermarket with a variety of goods on offer.

Objectives

- To gain a market advantage by offering products at competitive prices to end consumers - To serve all the daily needs of customers


Shop The business could employ one shop attendant


Shelves, refrigerator, deep freezer

Selling skills




Households Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: Placing billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

- Lower prices - Wide selection of products in a single shop

- Food meeting high safety standards Estimated sales per month Risks involved

GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Expiry of goods - Theft or fire






Deep freezer 525 1050

Refrigerator 350 700

Display items 1000 2000


Total 3875 7750


153

42. CHEMICAL RETAILING

Sector: Pharmaceutical Industry Code: 42 Appropriate in the Western region Date: July 2012


The business will sell pharmaceutical products.

Situation analysis

Chemical retailing in the Western region is one of the most lucrative business ventures. However, there are not many pharmacies in the region. In the Sefwi Waiwso area, for instance, there is not a single pharmacy. Returnees with the requisite skills, experience and interest could fill in this gap.

Objectives

To offer high quality, reliable and affordable drugs to customers


Shop The services of a dispensing assistant will be needed to support the pharmacist in drug dispensing


Shelves, refrigerator

Pharmaceutical skills, selling skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly, Ghana Pharmaceutical Council and Food and Drugs Board


General public Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: Placing billboards at vantage points to conspicuously display useful information about the business

Market needs

High quality, reliable and affordable drugs


GH¢ 10,000 - Increased competition - Expiry of drugs

- Fire - Theft



contribution




Refrigerator 400 800

Accessories 1000 2000


Total 3100 6200


154

43. PALM OIL EXTRACTION

Sector: Agro Processing Code: 43 Appropriate in the Western region Date: July 2012


The business will extract palm oil from palm fruit.

Situation analysis

Ghana’s Western region is one of the regions listed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as suitable for palm oil production. However, even though the region ir renowned for its oil palm plantations, palm oil extraction remains low. Therefore, returnees with the requisite skills, experience and interest could fill the existing gap in the market by setting up a palm oil extraction facility in areas close to the oil palm plantations.

Objectives

- To keep waste at 1% - To increase production by 20% annually


Open space (farm land) The business should employ two workers with knowledge of the operation of an extraction machine


Extraction machine

Oil processing skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly and Food and Drugs Board


Households, factories producing soap Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: - Billboards, website - Personal selling by the promoter

Market needs

High quality and affordable palm oil


GH¢ 5000 - Breakdown of machinery - Increased competition - Theft or fire



contribution



Extraction machine 1500 3000

Wheelbarrow 100 200

Accessories 500 1000


Total 3100 6200


155

44. POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK REARING

Sector: Agriculture Code: 44 Appropriate in the Western region Date: July 2012


The business will rear poultry and livestock in commercial quantities.

Situation analysis Poultry production constitutes a significant component of agricultural activities in Ghana. The subsector is practiced by about 66% of the 3.7 million households in Ghana, especially in the Guinea Savanna Agro-Ecological zone (Northern Ghana). In rural areas of the country, almost all households keep local chickens, guinea fowls and ducks. There are about 25 million free-roaming village poultry in Ghana which are kept for meat and eggs and can be sold for emergency cash needs. Farms rearing exotic birds for commercial purposes are abundant in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions where, especially in the urban areas, demand for their products is high. There are also substantial commercial bird populations in the Brong Ahafo, Western, Central and Upper West regions. However, the high demand for these products in the Western region has so far not been met. Hence the proposed business. Objectives

- To increase sales/expand the business by 20% annually - To keep livestock death rate at 1% annually Operational space required Labour required Open space and roofed sheds The business should employ at least one worker

with experience in poultry farm business

Key infrastructure/equipment/tools required Skills required Wheelbarrow

Poultry and livestock rearing skills Type of permit required Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly and Environmental Protection Agency

Potential customers Marketing plan Households, hoteliers Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on

competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: - Billboards, website - Personal selling by the promoter

Market needs - Reliable supply of high quality poultry,

eggs and meat - Affordable prices Estimated sales per month Risks involved Depending on market prices - Disease outbreak

- Increased competition - Theft

Initial capital required Sources of capital GH¢ 6600 - IOM reintegration grant

- Returnee’s own contribution

Estimated cost of investment Items required US$ FOB GH¢ Sheds 1200 2400 Wheelbarrow 100 200 Working capital 2000 4000 Total 3300 6600


156

45. TIMBER PRODUCTS RETAILING

Sector: Commerce Code: 45 Appropriate in Western and Greater Accra regions Date: July 2012


The business will offer a wide range of timber products like lumber. The business will operate as an intermediary between sawmills and customers.

Situation analysis

In the Western region, for instance, the abundance of forests has resulted in many sawmill companies operating in the area. However, as most of the sawmills are situated in the hinterland, customers generally find it difficult to get in contact with them. Thus setting up a wood retailing shop in the Sewfi Waiwso or Bibiani district could help bridge the gap between timber producers and consumers.

Objectives

- To supply high quality timber for local consumption and export - To keep customer complaints at 1% annually


Open space and roofed shed The business should employ one assistant


Binding wires, stacking platforms Selling skills


Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly and Forestry Commission


Builders Suggested pricing strategy: Price setting based on competitive market conditions Suggested promotional strategy: - Billboards, website - Personal selling by the promoter

Market needs

- Durable, high-quality wood bodies

- Reliable supply


GH¢ 5000 - Increased competition - Accidents

- Theft - Fire





Shop 1500 3000

Accessories 200 400


Total 3200 6400


157

46. PALM FRUIT CULTIVATION (FARMING) Sector: Agriculture

Code: 46 Appropriate in the Western region Date: July 2012


Development of a small to medium scale oil palm plantation in Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani districts for the cultivation of palm fruit for commercial purposes.

Situation analysis

Oil palm plantation in the Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani districts is a potentially profitable business. However, not much has been done by the local population to take advantage of the opportunity. Most farmers in the area are subsistence farmers. Some of them also use low production seedlings and, as a result, do not get enough yield. Thus returnees could set up an oil palm plantation in the said districts to take advantage of the existing gaps.

Objectives

- To use best practices that are environmentally friendly to ensure the long term viability of the plantation project

- To maximize project profitability while optimizing contributions to local communities; providing better livelihoods for them


Open space farmland Depending on the scale of activity. Initially, the business should employ two farm workers and periodically engage the services of agricultural extension officers.


Cutlasses, hoes, spraying machine; oil palm seedlings; pesticides

Farming skills


Local Authority


Palm oil producers A two stage marketing plan is suggested: - Selling of high quality fruit from the plantation

to an investment partner or a local milling company. The fruit will be attractive because the Tenera cultivar to be used could produce yields up to 21% higher compared to other seedlings. Additionally, with processors being able to buy the fruit locally, there will be savings on transport and logistics. Partnering with either an existing or a new oil palm processor should be considered in order to expand the production capacity.

- As the plantation develops, the long term viability of the project will require the establishment of an oil extraction/processing capability. One option could be to seek private investment to establish a company for the processing of palm oil into either crude palm oil or biodiesel.

Market needs

- High quality palm fruits

- Farm produce without the usage of child labour


GH¢ 5000 - Climate/weather conditions


158

- Theft - Bush fire



contribution



Oil palm seedlings 1000 2000

Pesticides 200 400

Spraying machine 500 1000

Cutlasses 100 200

Wheelbarrow 100 200

Other accessories 200 400


Total 3100 6200


159

ANNEX 2: SOURCES OF FUNDING

Sources of funding in the Greater Accra region

In the Greater Accra region, specific sources of funding can be obtained from the following

financial and microfinance institutions: Sinapi Aba Trust, First Allied Savings and Loans

Limited, Multicredit Limited, UT Financial Services, Abokobi Rural Bank, Ada Rural Bank

Limited, Shai Rural Bank Limited, Dangme Rural Bank Limited, Ga Rural Bank Limited

and La Community Bank Limited.

Sources of funding in the Western region

In the Western region, specific sources of funding can be obtained from the following

financial and microfinance institutions: Sinapi Aba Trust, First Capital Plus, UT Financial

Services, First Allied Savings and Loans Limited, Lower Pra Rural Bank, Procredit Limited,

Ahantaman Rural Bank, Mansoman Rural Bank, Jomoro Rural Bank, Nzema Menle Rural

Bank, Amenfiman Rural Bank, Ankobra West Rural Bank, Western Rural Bank Limited and

Faiseman Rural Bank.

Sources of funding in the Brong Ahafo region

In the Brong Ahafo region, specific sources of financial assistance include the following:

BrongAhafo Catholic Co-operative Credit Union (BACCCU), Opportunity, Sinapi Aba

Trust and First Allied Savings and Loans; Capital Rural Bank; Kintampo Rural Bank;

Nafana Rural Bank; Amantin & Kasei Rural Bank; Suma Rural Bank; Derma Area Rural

Bank; Asutifi Rural Bank; Nsoatreman Rural Bank; Baduman Rural Bank; Fiagya Rural

Bank; Wenchi Rural Bank; Wamfie Rural Bank; Drobo Rural Bank; Yapra Rural Bank;

Ahafo Community Rural; Atweaban Rural Bank; Nkrankwanta Rural Bank; Nkoranza

Kwabre Rural Bank; Bomaa Area Rural Bank; and Nkoranman Rural Bank.

Sources of funding in the Eastern region

In the Eastern region, specific sources of funding can be obtained from the following

microfinance institutions: Manya Krobo Rural Bank, Kwahu Rural bank, Kwaebibirim Rural

Bank, Mponua Rural Bank, Dumpong Rural Bank, Asuo Pra Rural Bank, Adonten Rural

Bank, Afram Rural Bank, Akuapem Rural Bank, Asante Akyem Rural Bank, Anum Rural

Bank, Akim Bosome Rural Bank, Akyem Mansa Rural Bank, and Atiwa Rural Bank.


160

ANNEX 3: MFI CONTACTS IN GHANA’S FIVE PRINCIPAL REGIONS OF

RETURN

Table 15 lists some microfinance institutions (MFIs) that offer services to SMEs in the

Ashanti region. As these MFIs also have branch offices in other regions of the country, the

contact details in Kumasi provided below can be used for initial contact and further referal of

returnees.

Table 15. MFI Contacts in Ashanti Region

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

NAME OF ORGANIZATION CONTACT INFORMATION

Microfinance

Exim Guarantee 116 Dr. Addo Kuffour Avenue, Danyame, Opp. Friends Gardens Contact person: Mrs. Felicity Acquah

Frankaman Microfinance Ltd. P.O. Box KJ 565, Kejetia-Kumasi

Adwumadem Microfinance Services Ltd.

P.O. Box 10, Ejisu Ashanti

Era Microfinance Services Ltd. P.O. Box KS 13567, Adum - Kumasi, AR

Multi-Trust Money Lending Services Ltd.

P.O. Box AH 8039, Ahinsan-Kumasi, AR

MT Microfinance Ltd. P.O. Box SE 2023, Suame, Kumasi, AR

Pathway Microfinance Company Ltd.

P.O.Box KS 11969, Kumasi-Safoline Alignment

Saving and Loans Multi Credit - Adum

Adum, Kumasi Contact person: Mr. Philip Kyei Baffour Tel: +233(0) 267235390

Advans Savings and Loans - Adum

Contact person: Mr. Huseini Hamidu Tel: +233(0) 268091242

Opportunity International Mbrom, Kejetia Kumasi Tel: (30) 2675219

First Allied Asafo SSNIT Building, Kumasi Tel: (32) 2036881

Pro-Credit Ahodwo Business Centre, Old Bekwai Road, Adj. Mr. Biggs Tel: (32) 2091131

First Capital Plus Savings and Loans

Adum Pampaso, Opp. Kumasi Children’s Hospital Tel: 0322049240-4

Rural Banks

Nwabiagya Rural Bank Ltd. Berekese, Bohyen, Adum (Sagoe Lane)

Amansie West Rural Bank Ahodwo Daaban (Atinga Junction)

Juaben Rural Bank – Ejisu/Juabeng

Collins Ofor Peprah Tel: +233(0) 264141081

Atwima Kwanwoma Ayigya - Kumasi Tel: (32) 2062266

Credit Unions

Tech Credit Union KNUST - Kumasi

Ramseyer Cooperative Credit Union -

Ejisu – Kumasi Obenewa Tel: +233(0) 202030148


161

Financial Institutions

Stanbic Bank Adum/Suame Contact person: Mr. Tony Michael Tel: +233(0) 244681949

Zenith Adum Nana Yaa Tel: +233(0) 200930994

Calbank Ahodwo Contact person: Ms. Sophia Tsakle Tel: +233(0) 243008088

Financial NGOs

Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) Contact person: Mr. Tony Fosu Tel: 0322027150

GLOPEC Adum, Kumasi Contact person: Mr. Samuel Amoama Tel: 0242884066

Financial Services

Eden - Ejisu Contact person: Mr. Paul Owusu Asante Tel: +233(0)246193000

UT Financial Services Adum, Kumasi


162

ANNEX 4: CONTACT LOG ON ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES

Table 16. Contacts of Organizations and Institutions

ORGANIZATION

LOCATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

REGION

Cooperative Formation and Monitoring Organizations TRAGRIMAC Community 189 Galgon, Tema Accra

Tel: 0208135861/ 0543613112 Greater Accra

TRAGRIMAC Tamale Tel: 0244586674

Northern

RECFAM Tel: 0244740874 Greater Accra IntEnt Ghana E-mail: [email protected] Greater Accra EMPRETEC 24 Nii Amoah Loop, East Legon, PMB GPO,

Accra Greater Accra

Vocational Training Institutions OIC, Ghana Shiashie- Accra

Tel: 027603338 Greater Accra

OIC, Ghana Secondi Takoradi Tel: 0244527045

Western

OIC, Ghana Kumasi Tel: 020256567348

Ashanti

OIC, Ghana Tamale Northern NVTI Shiasie

Box MB 21, Accra Tel: 0302-518698/506890

Greater Accra

NVTI Box 580, Biriwa Tel: 033-37862

Central

NVTI Box 80,Takoradi Tel: 031-23381

Western

NVTI Box 3953,Kumasi Tel: 032-26282

Ashanti

NVTI Box 450, Sunyani Tel: 035-28182

Brong Ahafo

NVTI Box 348, Koforidua Tel: 034-26221

Eastern

NVTI Within the District Labour Office, Ho Private mail bag, Ho Tel: 036-25070

Volta

NVTI Box 53, Tamale Tel: 071-22511

Northern

NVTI Box 93, Kaleo Tel: 0244954497

Upper West

ATTC Royal Castle Street Kokomlemle, P.O.Box MB 177, Accra

Greater Accra

Governmental Institutions NYEP Tel: 0244990166 Greater Accra NADMO Tel: 0302780221 Greater Accra MESW Tel: 0302684532

Web: http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/governanc


163

e/ministries/334--ministry-of-employment-and-social-welfare-

Labour Department Tel: 0302664511 / 0302665349 Greater Accra NGOs and Assosications IIP Tel: 0242342564 / 0244709747 Greater Accra IIP Tel: 0242342564 / 0244709747 Western Scholars in Transit Tel: 0243822436 Brong Ahafo Alliance Against Irregular Migration (AAIM)

Near British Council Opp. Presby Mission House Tel: 0206-946-412 / 0 205-798-096 / 0247-155-779 P.O. Box Ks 6307 Adum - Kumasi Email: [email protected]

Ashanti Region

Other Intercity STC Coaches Ltd.

Tel: 0302221414

Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)

Address:Liberation Rd. Adjacent Police Church Accra Tel: 030 2777460 Fax: 030 2771917

Greater Accra

DVLA, Kumasi Tel: 051.23499

Ashanti Region

International Organization for Migration, Ghana IOM, Accra Tel: 0302742930 Greater Accra


164

Table 17. List of Governmental Employment Agencies/ District Labour Offices and

Public Employment Centres52

DISTRICT/TOWN

ADDRESS

Greater Accra region Accra Box MB 58. Accra Tema Box CO 62 Eastern region Koforidua Box 301

Tel: 0342023306 Akim Oda Box 204 Mpraeso Box 67 Bawdua- Akwatia Box 13 Suhum Box 182 Somanya Box 93 Nsawam Box 864 Asesewa Box 126 New Tafo Western region Takoradi Box 80

Tel: 031-2023684 Tarkwa Box 113 Axim Biniani Box 138 Preastea Sefwi Wiawso Asankrangwa Box 50 Half Assini Box 58 Ashanti region Kumasi Box 58

Tel: 0322-027903 / 020-8888986 Konongo Box 77 Obuasi Box 95 Bekwai Box 177 Offinso Box 2 Mampong Box 176 Tepa Box 89 Brong Ahafo region Sunyani Box 149 Goaso Box 48 Wenchi Box 9 Berekum Atebubu Dormaa ahenkro Box 62 Duayaw Nkwanta Box 88 Kintampo Box 53

52

Source: The Labour Department, Ghana, 2012.

Tel:0342-023306


165

ANNEX 5: INTERCITY STC TRANSPORTATION COST

REGION ACCRA TO:

Ghana

Cedis

Ashanti Kumasi (Luxury) 25

Kumasi (Ordinary) 17

Central Cape Coast 9

Western Takoradi (Luxury) 14

Takoradi (Ordinary) 11

Tarkwa 15

Brong Ahafo Dormaa 22

Berekum 21

Sunyani 21

Northern Tamale 40

Upper West WA 42

Upper East Navrongo 46

Paga 46

Bolga 44

Volta HO 71

Hohoe 10

Kpando 9

Aflao (A/C)/Togo Border 10

Aflao (ORD)/Togo Border 10


166

ANNEX 6: MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN GHANA

Volta Region 1. Hohoe District Hospital 2. Volta Regional Hospital 3. South Tongu District

Hospital 4. Aflao District Hospital-

Ketu 5. Nkwanta District

Hospital 6. Worawora Hospital 7. Peki Hospital 8. Keta District Hospital 9. Ho Municipal Hospital 10. Kpando District

Hospital 11. New Hope Clinic 12. Adidome District

Hospital 13. Jasikan District Hospital 14. Dodi Papase Catholic

Hospital 15. St Anthony’s Hospital,

Dzodze 16. Battor Catholic Hospital 17. Central Hospital, Aflao

Greater Accra region 1. PML 2. Dangme west 3. Kaneshie 4. Pantang 5. Maamobi 6. Legon 7. Tema Gen Hosp 8. 37 military 9. Odornaa 10. La Gen Hosp. 11. Police 12. Ga south 13. Dangme east 14. Ridge Hospital 15. Amasaman 16. Mamprobi 17. Nyaho Clinic 18. IHCC 19. Port Medical 20. Tema Polyclinic 21. Trust Hospital 22. Madina Polyclinic 23. Akai house 24. Holy Trinity 25. Ashaiman Polyclinic 26. Korle Bu Teaching

Hospital

Central Region 1. Winneba Government

Hospital 2. Breman Asikuma Catholic

Hospital (Our Lady Of Grace) 3. St. Xavier Catholic Hospital 4. Central Regional Hospital 5. Agona Swedru Govt Hospital 6. Dunkwa-on-Offin

Government Hospital 7. Saltpond Hospital 8. Apam Catholic Hospital 9. Abura Dunkwa Govt Hospital 10. Twifo Praso Govt Hospital 11. Cape Coast Metro Hospital 12. UCC Hospital

Western Region 1. Effia Nkwanta Regional

Hospital 2. Axim Hosp. 3. St. Martin de Porries 4. Half Assini Hosp. 5. ABA Hosp. 6. Tarkwa Hosp. 7. St. John of God (Asafo) 8. Safwi Wiawso 9. Juabeso Hosp. 10. Akropong Hosp. 11. Bibiani Hosp. 12. Enchi Hosp. 13. GPHA Hosp. 14. Takoradi Hosp. 15. Kwesimintsim Hosp. 16. Shama Health Centre

Ashanti Region 1. Kumasi South Hospital 2. Bomso Clinic 3. St. Michael Hosp.(Pramso) 4. St. Patricks Hosp. (Offinso) 5. Anglogold Ashanti Hospital 6. Obuasi Gov Hospital 7. Mampong District Hospital 8. Animwaah Medical Centre 9. Agogo Presby Hospital 10. SDA Hospital, Kwadaso 11. Bekwai Hospital 12. Suntreso Hospital

Brong Ahafo Region 1. St. Elizabeth Hosp., Hwidiem 2. Regional Hospital, Sunyani 3. Methodist Hospital, Wenchi 4. Holy Family Hospital

Berekum 5. Kintampo Hospital 6. St. Theresah's Hosp.,

Nkoranza 7. Municipal Hospital, Sunyani 8. St. Mary's Hospital, Drobo 9. Holy Family Hospital

Techiman 10. Mathias Hospital 11. Atebubu Hospital 12. Presbyterian Hosp., Dormaa 13. St. John of God Hospital,

D/Nkwanta


167

Eastern Region 1. Regional Hospital St. Joseph Enyiresi Hosp. Asesewa Hosp. 2. Begoro Hosp. 3. Presby Hosp. 4. St. Dominic’s 5. Oda Hosp. 6. New Abirem Hosp. 7. Suhum Hosp. 8. Asamankese Hosp. 9. VRA Hosp. 10. Agormanya Hosp. 11. Holy Family 12. Atibie Hosp. 13. Kibi Hosp. 14. Akuse 15. Atua

13. Tepa Hospital 14. St. Martins Hospital, Agroyesum 15. Ejura Hospital 16. Nyinahin District Hospital 17. Juaso Hospital 18. Knust Hospital 19. Juabeng Hospital 20.Mankraso Hospital 21.Asafo Agyei Hospital 22. Atasomaso Hospital 23.New Edubiase Hospital 24. Nkenkensu Hospital 25. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

14. Sampa Hospital 132. Bechem Hospital 133. Sene Hospital 134. Goaso Hospital

Northern region 1. Tamale Teaching Hospital 2. Tamale Central Hospital 3. Tamale West Hospital 4. Yendi Hospital 5. Salaga Hospital 6. Bole Hospital 7. BMC Nalerigu 8. Walewale Hospital 9. Bimbilla Hospital 10. Saboba M. Centre 11. Gusheigu Hospital 12. West Gonja Hospital

Upper East Region 1. Bawku Presby 2. Reg. Hosp - Bolga 3. Bongo 4. Navrongo 5. Paga 6. Sandema 7. Zebilla 8. Garu Tongo

Upper West Region 1. Regional Hospital 2. Jirapa Hospital 3. Lawra Hospital 4. Nadowli Hospital 5. Nandom Hospital 6. Tumu Hospital

IOM • OIM

IOM GhanaHouse 10, Plot 48Osu Badu Road/BroadwayAirport Residential, Accra - GhanaTel: +233 302 742930 IOM GermanySub-office NurembergFrankenstr. 21090461 Nuremberg - GermanyTel: + 49 911 43000 IOM Malta12, Antonio Agius str.Floriana FRN 1135 - MaltaTel: +356 21 374613 IOM the NetherlandsP.O. Box 107962501 HT The HagueThe NetherlandsGeneral information on return:Tel: +31 88 7464466Tel: +31 70 3181500

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