Starting a Business in Ghana: 10 Low Cost Opportunities

Ghana is one of the countries with the fastest growing economy in Africa. Now you may want to know the potentials and fundamentals of doing business in Ghana. With a strong mineral resources sector, cocoa industry, consistent government policy, recent oil discoveries, friendly business environment and a free trade zone for foreign companies; Ghana is definitely a country to beat in the future.

But despite the rapid growth and reformation that the country is enjoying, the country is still falling short in many aspects. And this has opened the door of opportunities to entrepreneurs who are smart enough to identify these loopholes and deal with them. If you are an entrepreneur planning to start a business in Ghana, below are the 10 lucrative business opportunities you should explore:

Top 10 Small Business Investment Opportunities in Ghana

1. Waste management

Although there are a number of waste management companies in Ghana as of present, the country is still battling with more burden of filth than these companies can handle. To worsen matters, many Ghanaians are still in the habit of throwing refuse into drainages. You can make cool money in Ghana if you start a waste management business that offers to help people handle their wastes and refuse.

2. Herbal medicine

Ghanaians are now realizing the fact that not only orthodox medicine is effective in combating various ailments. There is increasing demand for herbal medications, and this has made herbal medicine more popular in Ghana. The good news is that almost all the medicinal plants that are used to handle various ailments can be found in Ghana.

So, Ghana is a fertile ground for flagging off a business that sells herbal medicine. If you go into this business, you will most likely get quick returns because herbal medicine is cheaper than orthodox medicine.

3. Agriculture and farming

Food is one of the basic needs of man and anyone that ventures into food production is sure of a never ending demand. The steady growth of Ghana’s population due to influx of investors, students, tourist, etc will only help explode the demand for food.

Ghana has soils that can support a vast variety of food crops. And yet, the agricultural sector is one of the most underutilized in the country. The Ghanaian government hasn’t done enough to explore the sector, which comprises only a few private companies. One can liken the agricultural industry in Ghana to a gold mine, as there’s always a high demand for agricultural produce.

4. Oil and gas

Following the discovery of oil in Ghana, the country is set to join the list of petroleum exporting countries. This oil sector, still very young in Ghana, is presently begging to be explored extensively. And there’s almost no limit to the profit that players in this sector can make. Though starting an oil and gas business could be very expensive, you can venture into it if you have what it takes.

5. ICT

Internet access in Ghana is still very scarce and the few internet facilities available are far below average. Ghanaians are presently craving high quality internet services in their homes and offices. And they have no problems paying for such — provided the quality is kept consistent. So, the ICT sector in Ghana is still underexplored, and you can make huge profits by launching a business that provides quality internet services.

6. Food production

Because Ghana is home to many agricultural food products, it offers the much-needed raw materials for food processing companies. And due to the fact that food is always in high demand, starting a food processing business in Ghana is a smart and lucrative move. Better yet, you can start on a smaller scale by launching a small business or restaurant that sells foods and snacks. This business is one of the easiest to start, and it’s very profitable, too.

7. Transport services

Aside food, transport from one place to another is another necessity. And the reality in Ghana agrees with this. So, if you are planning to start a business in Ghana, but you are yet to find a promising opportunity, the transport sector is an option. You can start a business that renders transport services, either on a small scale with few vehicles that ply short routes or on a large scale with many large vehicles that ply long routes.

8. Real estate

Though an expensive sector to break into, the real estate business in Ghana is, as is the case in most countries, very lucrative. Following the discovery of oil in the Western part of Ghana, the nucleus of development and industrialization is gradually shifting towards the region. So, you will probably make more money as a real estate investor if you focus on the oil-rich region.

9. Microfinance

There are many business opportunities in Ghana, and more people are getting to realize this with each passing day. This has led many business-minded Ghanaians (and foreigners, too) into various small businesses.

However, many small businesses are yet to launch and many existing ones are yet to expand — both due to lack of funds. Therefore, there is high demand for microfinance services. If you have a background in banking, especially microfinance banking, you’ll make money and at the same time help develop many small businesses.

10. Tourism

This is another big industry in Ghana. Every year, the country plays host to many foreigners who come to behold the various tourist attractions in the country. The tourism industry in Ghana is another sector you can start a business in if you want huge gains in the long term. One glad fact about this business opportunity is that even foreigners can launch it easily.