Reroy Cables Introduces Innovations in Order to Cut Power Usage Costs in Ghana and beyond

Interview with Madame Kate Quartey-Papafio, Founder and CEO of Reroy Cables (Reroy Group)

Why should one do business in Ghana?

Ghana is the place to do business now, in terms of the economy it is quite stable, we have peace and stability and it is a growth economy. It is quite an open economy; we like to do business with everyone. In terms of development, our time is now to develop the country and to make sure it is stable. We want the creation of more jobs and setting up industries especially in the private sector for the one district, one factory initiative by this current government. We want the private sector to take advantage of that of the one district, one factory initiative.

I would also say that apart from that, we also need industry pacts for all wages, and to ensure there is value added, the creation of more jobs, the training of our youth, sustainable investment portfolios, growth and stability. Also we would like to encourage the youth coming up to take the economy seriously because there is so much going for us, especially in Ghana. We need to move it forward in terms of value added. All of us will benefit from it not only now but also in the future. We look forward to exporting into the neighbouring countries to make Ghana a real market leader in the sub region.

Are you personally or as a company involved in any youth organisation?

Definitely. As a company one of our corporate social responsibilities initiatives is making sure we train the youth with adequate skills. Last year we planted about 5 thousand crafted mangoes and coconut seedlings and then we did training for how they can be maintained, adding value and creating no waste. Everything that we have mustn’t be wasted. We need to look at how we can add value to it. As a company we are actually setting out a lot of initiatives for the youth, to get them on the right track to development.

As a company one of our corporate social responsibilities initiatives is making sure we train the youth with adequate skills.

When it comes to the business itself?

When it comes to the business itself of course we have invested a lot in new equipment and machinery to get into the wire ropes market for the sub region and the ports especially and also with the LED bulbs. We have been innovative on how we can cut costs on power and how we can expand our scope with intelligent LED bulbs that automatically turns when power shutdown and also has an emergency work time up to Four hour.  

We are also looking at where we can expand our scope in terms of fibre optics. We need the collaboration on training to be efficient with fibre optics.

Are you currently looking for any partners?

Yes we are actually looking for a partner that will shepherd us through how we can innovate and sustain our investments.

What is the percentage between products manufactured for the local market against those that are exported?

When you look at the export market it is quite huge. With a country like Ghana we are looking at the export market in the sub regional market. That is basically the market that we are targeting in terms of the fibre optics. Also it is good because we are just next-door in terms of prompt delivery and efficiency. We are a Freezone company and we export 70% to the international market and do 30% domestic Market.

Which countries in the sub region?

We actually are looking at both francophone and anglophone countries when it comes to fibre optics. The key thing for us is to make sure that we are exporting 70:30. As the market requires, especially when you are in the free zone, you make sure that you are exporting 70% and providing the local market with 30%.  We export to Togo, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and most of the neighbouring countries. 

In 2015, you were awarded Manufacturing Company of the Year by GIMC, what do you contribute this success and achievement to?

I would say that perseverance and attention to detail as well as innovation. When it comes to manufacturing you need to be focused and to take each second into account. Attention to detail and perseverance are so important. You need to focus on your products, making sure that you are always there for the customers. Excellent client service is important; you must work as a team.

For this year and next, what are the main pillars of your strategy? You already said that you want to focus on the sub region, is there anything else?

Yes, the sub region is huge, in terms of power and energy I think there is so much to do because industry without energy cannot move. When you look at industry, you need power; no economy can do without it. This is where we are positioning ourselves at the moment, looking at the innovations that we can do to cut the costs of power usage in terms of where to add value and where we can open up more industries than where we are now. We are looking at new areas where we can add value. Now we have the biggest machine in the sub region to produce the steel wire ropes, apart from South Africa. We are definitely looking at the sub region in terms of the expansion of Reroy. Going forward we want to see the creation of jobs and sustained added value. We are looking forward to that. By the end of the year we are looking at employing about 5 thousand people or even more.

It is a huge number.

It is a huge number because if we are looking at the market, cutting across, especially with the one district, one factory initiative by government, we are there, the market players are there, but we need to make sure we are promptly supplying what is needed in terms of power in the private sector. We need to work as a team with public and private partnerships.

In 2015, you were awarded by the Ghana Entrepreneurs Foundation and after that you entered into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The foundation labelled you as “a courageous woman who dared men and ventured into business generally considered as the preserve for men and foreigners.” Is this description accurate? What is the secret to your personal success?

It is interesting; it takes one to be bold and to take it on. I always say that where there is negative there is always positive. You have to take the positive side of things and run with it. You need to be as bold as a lion and say “Listen, the men are doing it, other people are doing it, why is it that we cannot do it?” We can also be there. Especially to young ladies I would say that there is so much that we can do. I mean, what is a man’s field? What is a woman´s field? Of course there are some things that men can do that women can’t, but even then that shouldn’t stall us, we have to persevere. We need to be bold and get it done and we will do it well!

You need to break stereotypes and some of those divisions that are just constructed by people.

That is one of the reasons we have a foundation called the Boamah Foundation, the saying is “When you help a woman, you help a nation.” Women are going to drive tractors, they are going to drive buses… we should be able to do anything. Some of us are afraid of heights when we get to high levels, but we have to be bold enough to say that we can do it. Some of us women are pilots, so we can be out there! I would like to encourage women to take a step forward as a team. We can do nearly everything men can, we need men as partners, but I believe we can do better.

Your last note on Ghana?

We have a stable economy. We have our presidency working in terms of the one district, one factory initiative, which is good for the growth of the private sector. We must take advantage of that. We have to move the economy forward and create more jobs. The previous administration also did what they could but time is moving on and we have to move forward with the opportunities that we have now in terms of public private partnerships. The private sector is the engine of growth but we have to make sure that we sustain it for the next 50 years. Now Ghana is 60, but this year we should see where we are going. Now you can see that it is quite stable, the economy is picking up, you can see lots of cranes coming up and that is a good sign but we have to make sure that we sustain it going forward and also maintain what we have achieved previously because maintenance culture is another thing altogether.

FAIR USE POLICY
This material (including media content) may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed. However, linking directly to the page (including the source, i.e. Marcopolis.net) is permitted and encouraged.