LEARNING AND EVOLVING
(A continuation of AfriqAsia Merge`s interview with Auntie Emma, a Ghanaian trader and shop owner at the Makola shopping Mall who shares her experiences and opinion on Ghana-China trade.)
AfriqAsia Merge : In your opinion, what are the differences between the Ghanaian
way of doing business and the way the Chinese go about their business ?
Trader : Well, In Ghana as you know, you come to my shop, i sell to you the items you need, but in China, you have to place an order. Even if you`re buying 50 cartons of a certain item, you first place an order before they get those items made for you.
Secondly, we are very well received over there. When you arrive in the
morning, you`re served tea coffee or any beverage you prefer, in some shops
there are fruit stands, with confectionery for all who enter the shop. All this
makes us feel at home.
AfriqAsia Merge : So, another question is, why China? As in , have you
not been told of any other place where you could get these stuff from? If yes, then what is it that
makes you prefer China?
Trader : That is true..we`ve heard that Indian companies also produce
some of these items but personally, i`ve never been there so i can`t tell...but
generally, comparing Indian manufactured earrings for instance to Chinese ones ,
we find the Indian ones somehow of better quality than the ones made in China..
AfriqAsia : And the majority of the traders here also deal in items
imported from China?
Trader : Yes, most of them.
AfriqAsia Merge :And how is the customer response...
Trader : ...They like it... yes, i could say because it`s cheap, they like it. The China
goods may not be of the best quality as i said earlier, even with the earrings
some easily get broken, but when the
customers come, they still prefer the made in China ones because they can
afford it.
But i must mention that also in China, there are companies that produce
high quality items. But those items are expensive so if you bring those goods
here, you`ll not make any profit. So if we`re buying for our own use or
for the family, fine, but not to come
and sell. It`s too expensive.
AfriqAsia Merge :Do you make good profit?
Trader : (Laughing) .. somehow.. :
due to the payment of duties and so on, i say somehow...
AfriqAsia Merge : Is there anything that could be done to improve the
conditions of trade ?
Trader : Yes,. At first we did not use to hassle so much for a visa to
go to China to order our wares, but now, the situation is different. During my first three years of
trading, it was a simple process, you could even stay in your shop, and the
trading agent would work on it , but now before you get a visa, you even need
an invite from the Chinese partner, you apply for the visa on your own, and so
on...It`s hectic.
AfriqAsia Merge: How does the future look, in your opinion, with respect
to Ghana China relations, particularly in trade?
Trader: Well, as we are speaking, if i should tell you, some of the
Chinese traders and manufacturers have opened up their own shops right here in
Ghana. And in those shops, they retail the goods in smaller quantities, they
even sell some in singles not in a packet, you see? but generally, i mean the
typical Chinese shops were always known to sell goods in bulk for petty traders
to go and sell but it is no longer so..so in fact if we are not careful, and we
do not plan carefully, the same Chinese partners we deal with in China will
come and establish shops here and take over the Ghanaian trade and market...It
is very worrying..you can buy it from them in bulk, thinking you`re coming to
sell for profit, by the time you realize, some of them are also selling the
same items with you on the market, and because they manufacture the goods in
their country they have the upper hand, even in terms of the prices, theirs
tend to be cheaper.
AfriqAsia Merge : So, do you
know of any Ghanaian in China who engages in any business activities?
Trader : Well i have not seen any Ghanaian who owns a shop in China or
who really trades inside of China. I was told they were not really interested. For
instance my shop is like a family business, i run it together with my husband
and kids, but in China no Ghanaian does that. I once met some Ghanaian guys
but they said they were all there for studies. One Ghanaian also said he was an English
teacher to some Chinese kids. In some restaurant i went to, there was a young
lady there who managed the place. It was after she spoke to us in Twi, that we realized she was Ghanaian, because she`s learned the Chinese language well, and
can speak English fluently, she`s been
hired to manage the place...but the actual owner is a Chinese.
AfriqAsia Merge: So, as Ghanaians is there anything we could learn from
the Chinese?
Trader: We as Ghanaians can learn
a lot from China. We have to learn from their industrious nature. Ghana should
also learn to open factories. As much as
possible, we have to try and invest in manufacturing, so that we can also
produce as much as possible, so that it can create jobs for the people
Note: This interview was originally conducted in Twi and translated into English. All of the contents and ideas are strictly retained.
AfriqAsia Merge....
..... bridging the gap
....embracing the difference...
