“The initial challenges I faced when I started my bakery business in 2018 were enough to discourage me. I almost gave up, but the intervention of REP changed my story.”
These are the words of Dorcas Danquah, the Chief Executive Officer of Haneliot Ventures. Located in Asikuma in the Asikuma-Odobeng-Brakwa District of Ghana’s Central Region, Haneliot Ventures specializes in bread and confectionery production. When she started, Dorcas struggled to sell bread made from less than half a bag of flour per week. Today, she processes more than six bags of flour daily, thanks to the support and guidance provided by REP.
The Role of REP in Transforming the Business
REP, a programme funded by IFAD, stepped in at a critical time for Dorcas. The programme provided not only financial support in the form of a matching grant but also crucial soft skills training in business development, marketing and branding, record keeping, and business management.
With the matching grant, Haneliot Ventures was able to procure essential machinery, including a mixing machine, cylinders, and industrial gas ovens. These investments significantly boosted production capacity, transforming the enterprise into a fully functional bread-making factory.
Reflecting on her journey, Dorcas recounts,
“Initially, the journey was tough. I didn’t have many customers, and much of the bread would go to waste. In the early days, I could only produce less than a bag of flour per day. However, I remained hopeful and worked hard to keep the business running.”
The financial difficulties she faced almost led Dorcas to abandon her business. However, a friend introduced her to REP, where she received funding to acquire a mixing machine and other essential equipment. This intervention marked a turning point for Haneliot Ventures, enabling the business to increase production and improve operational efficiency.
“The grant had a significant impact on my business. I gained more customers, my sales improved, and I even saw positive changes at home,” she affirmed.
At the time, Dorcas was operating from a small structure near her home, using a single oven and sometimes relying on public ovens to meet baking demands. Today, thanks to REP’s support, she operates with her own modern equipment, significantly enhancing her ability to compete in the local market.
Thriving in a Competitive Market
Despite stiff competition from other bakers, Haneliot Ventures has carved out a niche market. The business continues to grow, employing two workers and maintaining steady production.
“Being a mother of three children, I save money from my business and invest in other ventures, including the importation of goods,”
Dorcas shared. Her ability to generate and reinvest income highlights the broader impact of the support received from REP.
Dorcas’s foray into the bread-making business began after she relocated from Nsawam to Asikuma to join her husband. Previously employed at a manufacturing company in Nsawam, she found herself unemployed after the move.
“I was sitting at home doing nothing when a woman who was into bread-making encouraged me to join her so she could teach me the trade. That moment marked the beginning of my journey as a baker,” she recalled.
Her decision to embrace the bakery business was life-changing. She started small, but with perseverance and the right support, her business has flourished.
Dorcas’s husband, a nurse by profession, has now joined the business. He plays an active role in implementing the skills she acquired through REP’s capacity-building and training programmes. Their joint efforts aim to formalize and expand the business’s operations further.
Looking ahead, Dorcas is focused on addressing one of the major operational challenges she faces: frequent power outages.
“Our immediate goal is to acquire a generator to deal with the challenges posed by intermittent power supply, which affects production negatively,” she said.
Beyond that, she has ambitious plans to scale up her business. “I plan to expand operations by purchasing more ovens and a distribution vehicle to facilitate efficient delivery of our products,” she added.
A Success Story of Transformation
Dorcas Danquah’s story is a testament to the transformative power of REP’s interventions. From struggling to sell bread made from half a bag of flour per week to processing more than six bags daily, her journey exemplifies the impact that targeted financial and business support can have on small enterprises.
Haneliot Ventures is not just a business; it is a symbol of resilience, innovation, and growth. Thanks to REP and IFAD’s investment in rural enterprises, more entrepreneurs like Dorcas are finding the support they need to thrive in Ghana’s growing agribusiness sector.
