imported 2024-03-17 17:43:07
In this section of the interview, Jayanth Murthy, CEO of Kaizen Institute for India and Africa, explores one of the most overlooked challenges in business: …
In this in-depth interview, Aaron Tawiah, CEO of Estaaron Ventures Limited, shares the inspiring journey of building one of Ghana’s leading construction materials suppliers and real estate developers. Starting in 2010 with just two containers and a small shop, Estaaron Ventures has grown into a major cement distributor in Ghana, with over 17 branches nationwide and plans to reach 20 by year-end.
Aaron explains how his background working at Krane Construction Limited shaped his understanding of the construction industry in Ghana, enabling Estaaron to provide expert guidance on building materials, cement supply, iron rods, and construction project management. The company is recognized as a major CIMAF cement distributor in Ghana and a partner of Fabrimetal iron rods, ensuring quality from sourcing to delivery.
Beyond supplying building materials in Ghana, Estaaron has expanded into real estate development. Their projects include townhouses in Accra, studio apartments in Accra, and future developments in Spintex and Aburi. The company’s estates promote green real estate in Ghana, with features like solar-powered estates, biogas waste treatment plants, and energy-efficient housing.
Estaaron Ventures aims to deliver affordable housing in Ghana, targeting price ranges of GHS 100,000–130,000 while maintaining quality. The estates include high-end amenities such as restaurants, gyms, swimming pools, and 24/7 janitorial services. Aaron emphasizes honesty and transparency in real estate, ensuring that what is marketed matches the final build.
He also discusses the challenges and opportunities in Ghana’s real estate market, including the impact of the cedi’s fluctuations on property pricing and real estate investment. The company is exploring real estate projects in Dubai, aiming to replicate their townhouse concept design and space-conscious architecture in the UAE market.
Estaaron Ventures places strong value on partnerships and customer service in construction supply, offering prompt delivery and building long-term relationships with cement retailers, building contractors in Ghana, and individual customers. Their five-year strategic vision includes expanding to 50 branches, growing their affordable homes portfolio, and deepening partnerships with Republic Bank Ghana and Ghana Home Loans to finance mortgage solutions in Ghana.
In this comprehensive interview, Jayanth Murthy, CEO of Kaizen Institute for India and Africa, outlines how the organization specializes in operational excellence consulting and strategy execution support—bridging the critical gap between planning and implementation. Rather than offering traditional advisory services, the Institute takes a hands-on approach, focusing on continuous improvement methodology and delivering results at the frontline level.
Murthy emphasizes that Kaizen implementation is about “improvement without addition,” meaning companies can boost efficiency and performance using existing resources, without needing new investments. This focus on no-cost productivity improvement and waste elimination in business is central to their Lean transformation services.
The Kaizen philosophy is deeply rooted in Japanese principles like Muda (waste), Mura (inconsistency), and Muri (overburden), with a strong emphasis on Gemba-based process improvement—observing real work in real places. Through management consulting in India and Africa, Kaizen Institute has worked across diverse sectors including agriculture, healthcare, garments, manufacturing, and government.
With over 90 consultants from 11 countries, the firm operates as a “small multinational,” using structured methods like value stream mapping and real-time data to drive results. The company conducts weekly internal training reflections to sharpen skills, foster innovation, and promote business process standardization.
Murthy highlights that true transformation comes from involving frontline teams, encouraging a mindset of “learning to see,” and focusing on resource optimization in operations. In his words, empowering frontline teams and standardizing improvements are vital for resilience and sustainable growth.
Finally, as Kaizen expands in emerging markets like India, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, the company is seeking strategic partnerships to scale. Murthy underscores their core belief: efficiency must come before investment, and in a world overloaded with data, leaders must find the “vital few” insights that drive real change.
In this insightful segment of the interview, Mr. Kweku Welsing, CEO of Spotlight Homes, engages in a practical and informative conversation with Gilbert from First …
In this part of the interview with Seth Quaye, the CEO of MAC Partners, he offers a detailed overview of the company’s core business structure …
In this interview, the MarcoPolis team sat down with Seth Quaye, the CEO of MAC Partners, a Ghana-based engineering and mining services company that has rapidly positioned itself as a key player in West Africa’s mining support services sector. Founded in 2014, MAC Partners has grown into a multi-disciplinary business specializing in aftermarket mining parts, EPC contracting, engineering construction, and mining industry training through its MAC Partners Training Institute.
Operating from its home base in Ghana, MAC Partners services major mining operations across Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea, embodying its commitment to local content advocacy. Quaye emphasized the company’s focus on reducing long lead times for mining consumables by investing in local manufacturing—notably, a new production plant in Obuasi that transforms local rubber into mill lining and crusher backing compounds.
With a strong foundation in engineering excellence, the company adheres to four key values: continuous improvement, accountability, respect, and customer-centric service. Its tailored solutions approach ensures that no engineering project is treated with a one-size-fits-all mindset. This has made MAC Partners a trusted name in mine redevelopment projects, including its high-profile involvement in the AGA Obuasi mine and the full-scope rebuild of the Northern Ashanti Mines facility in Konongo.
On the technology front, MAC Partners leverages partnerships with firms in South Africa, Germany, and Sweden to introduce advanced tools such as diagnostics systems, AI-supported training, and robotic welding, particularly within its training and fabrication units. These innovations strengthen the company’s competitiveness and relevance across the mining engineering value chain.
Sustainability is emerging as a strategic focus, with local production efforts helping to reduce the carbon footprint of Ghana’s mining sector. While still developing a formal ESG policy, MAC Partners already aligns its operations with international sustainability standards, especially in collaboration with environmentally conscious clients.
The company is also active in corporate social responsibility (CSR), offering discounted training to local communities and supporting education initiatives in the Obuasi region. Quaye revealed that CSR and skills development for the mining sector are closely tied to MAC Partners’ broader mission to be a “Local Content Ambassador” for the region.
Looking ahead, MAC Partners aims to become West Africa’s number one mining support company, expanding its physical footprint, resourcing its Burkina Faso office, and launching bases in Ivory Coast and Guinea. Through its Talent Acquisition Program, the company is investing in training the next generation of mining engineers in Ghana, with plans to scale this initiative further over the next five years.
Seth Quaye concluded with a strong message to fellow Ghanaian mining companies: the future of the industry lies in local manufacturing, technical collaboration, and transforming Ghana into a net exporter of mining technology and consumables. His leadership continues to drive MAC Partners toward its ambitious goal of being the leading mine support service company in West Africa.
In this exclusive video interview, we sit down with Kweku Welsing, the visionary CEO of Spotlight Homes, and Mariam Dowuona, a senior representative from First …
In this exclusive interview, Akshay Shah, Group Executive Director of Silafrica, explores how the company is leading the way in sustainable packaging in Kenya and across Africa. As a founding member of KEPRO (Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization), Silafrica champions circular economy packaging, using post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial recycled materials (PIR) in over 36% of its output. The company partners with multinationals like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Heineken, and Unilever to deliver rigid plastic packaging, recyclable beverage crates, and IoT-enabled production systems (ThinkTracks). Shah also highlights the critical role of MSMEs in Africa’s packaging supply chain, outlining strategies to aggregate demand and finance packaging solutions for small-scale producers. From custom yogurt cup printing to cross-border reusable crate systems, Silafrica is redefining what it means to build a scalable, circular, and inclusive packaging industry in Africa.
Ghana’s real estate sector has emerged as one of the most dynamic industries, driven by rapid urbanization, a rising middle class, and an increasing demand for both affordable and luxury housing. With an estimated housing deficit of 1.8 million units, the need for innovative solutions to bridge the gap between demand and supply has never been more urgent. Cities like Accra and Kumasi are witnessing significant residential and commercial developments, as both local and international investors recognize the country’s potential.
One of the key factors contributing to the growth of Ghana’s property market is its political stability and adherence to the rule of law, which provide a secure environment for investments. Additionally, the diaspora’s growing interest in real estate investment, coupled with government initiatives aimed at encouraging property ownership, has further stimulated the sector.
Within this evolving landscape, i2 Development Ghana has positioned itself as a key player, bringing high-quality and strategically located real estate projects to the market. One of its flagship developments, Prestige, is a prime example of luxury and convenience, boasting an unbeatable location near Kotoka International Airport.
In this interview, Mohammed Al Jaber, Special Project Manager at Rafal Real Estate when asked by the MacroPolis team about key metrics that will be …
