Accra:Madam Francesca Brenda Opuko, CEO and Founder of Solution Oasis Limited, emphasizes the importance of financial access for women-owned micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which she believes can significantly boost job creation and economic growth in local communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Opuko highlighted that although women are proving to be strong entrepreneurs, larger financial incentives still predominantly favor men. She shared her journey from marketing locally made skincare products door-to-door to establishing a business that serves both domestic and international markets. Her experience underscores the challenges women face in securing financial support for independently owned enterprises.
She noted that access to funding has been vital to her business's growth, allowing her to invest in production equipment, raw materials, and expansion. Despite initial difficulties in obtaining a bank loan due to assumptions about her husband's financial support, she persevered. Over time, she enhanced her financial management skills and secured necessary loans and grants to sustain operations.
Solution Oasis Limited collaborates with about 600 women in northern Ghana for shea butter production, an essential ingredient in their skincare products. The company has grown to employ 25 people and exports its products across Africa, the United States, and Australia, owing to sound financial management and strategic investments.
Madam Opuko advocates for more investment in women entrepreneurs, emphasizing that economic empowerment of women can strengthen families and the broader economy. She is planning to build a new factory to improve working conditions for women in her supply chain, incorporating eco-friendly practices to enhance safety.
Her long-term vision is to expand Beauty Secrets into a globally competitive company, leaving a lasting legacy and eventually transitioning its management to the next generation. Her entrepreneurial success story highlights the critical role of perseverance, effective financial management, and investing in people for sustainable business growth.