Alex, a Ghanaian diaspora entrepreneur, has announced that she is temporarily halting plans to open her much-anticipated studio in Ghana, roughly a week after its initial opening, citing the importance of local connections and community engagement for success.
In a series of TikTok posts, Alex explained that while her passion for building a community-focused space was genuine, she realized she had underestimated the challenges of operating in a new environment.
“I did not do all of my research nor my networking in Ghana,” she admitted, emphasizing that while her heart was in the right place, understanding the local system is critical for business success. Alex noted that in Ghana, “it is all about connections.
It’s not about how qualified you are. It’s not even about the passion that you have for a certain career field. It’s all about who you know.”
Alex also reflected on the differences between doing business in Ghana and the United States, where she said it can be easier to participate in classes or professional opportunities without extensive personal connections.
She encouraged other expats considering Ghana to focus on building networks and becoming integrated into local communities. “Join the groups, join the social media pages, visit, really meet people, really make connections,” she advised.
Despite the pause, Alex reassured her followers that this is a temporary setback, describing it as a learning opportunity in her journey as a woman entrepreneur. “We’re going back to the drawing board and you’ll see me again,” she said.
Her candid reflections offer insight into the challenges of diaspora entrepreneurship and the importance of understanding the local system and building community ties for achieving success abroad.