Business

How to Start a TV Station in Ghana

October 27, 2019 by PGadmin

Are you interested in starting a TV station in Ghana? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Starting a TV station in Ghana would prove to a profitable and viable business, especially if you’ve done the right research and if you’re determined and passionate about getting something meaningful out of the business.

There has been an increase in the number of people watching TV in Ghana, especially general TV stations that promote politics, local movies and other forms of entertainment. This makes owning a TV station a very lucrative business.

Unfortunately, starting a TV station is very capital intensive. Processes like getting a license, constructing and installing TV station equipment, and hiring staff all take up a big chunk of the capital.

But if you’d still want to go ahead and start your own TV station, then you can follow the steps below and get your TV station displayed in all Ghanaian homes.

How to Start a TV Station in Ghana

Decide What Your Station Will Be All About

Before you start anything, you will have to first decide the type of content that will be displayed on your TV station.

Sports TV stations focus on sports games, news, and the lifestyle of sportspeople. While, news channels focus on breaking news, interviews, and documentaries. Other channels include music channels, lifestyle channels, religion, and children channels.

Before settling for a choice, you should do thorough research on the industry. There are some channel types that are oversaturated and only lead to dead ends. However, there are several opportunities that are unexplored. You can easily take advantage of them and make a huge profit.

Write A Business Plan

A business plan makes things easier. With it, you will be able to monitor your progress, capital, profit, and losses. A business plan will also be required from you if you plan on getting sponsors to support your TV station business.

You can write the business plan for your business by yourself or get a professional or a lawyer to write it for you.

Get Your Capital

Capital refers to money (or other assets) used in starting of a company. As said earlier, starting a TV station in Ghana requires huge capital which you might not have. You can easily get capital from the government, banks, online lenders, local lenders, family, and friends.

To increase your chances of getting sponsors, you will need an impressive business plan and an excellent financial profile. Banks usually focus on these two things before deciding who and who not to give loans.

Government organizations, on the other hand, give out loans based on multiple merit systems. Unfortunately, it might take too long for you to get the right amount from the government.

Your best options are online lenders, crowdfunding campaigns, banks, and your family, and friends.

Get Licensed

Prior to starting your own TV station in Ghana, you will have to meet certain requirements as set by the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana.

TV station operators are required to apply for a license or frequency authorization from the Authority before they can provide any broadcasting service to the general public.

Before applying, you should know how TV broadcasting authorizations are classified in Ghana so that you can choose the one that best suits you.

Digital Terrestrial Pay Television (Service Only)
Digital Terrestrial Pay Television (Service and frequency)
Digital Terrestrial Television (Network only)
Digital Terrestrial Free-to-Air Television Programme Channel
Digital Terrestrial Radio Service on TV Multiplex
Satellite Television Broadcasting (Pay TV Direct-to-Home Bouquet)
Satellite Television Broadcasting (Free-to-Air Direct-to-Home Bouquet)
Satellite Television Broadcasting (Free-to-Air Direct-to-Home Single Channel)
Digital Terrestrial Television Additional Services (eg. Teletext, etc)
Digital Terrestrial Mobile Television Service
Digital Cable Television (Pay TV)
Television over Internet Protocol (Pay TV)

After picking an option, you can go to any NCA office nearest to you to pick up the application form and make inquiries for the required documents and qualifications.

Install the TV Station Equipment and Office Space

TV station equipment takes the bulk of your capital. You can get them at a lesser price if you go for used items, but that will in no way benefit your business. If you’re on a tight budget or you’re looking for a way to save money for other operations, then you can go for used items on some parts of the TV station equipment.

Office space is where you store and install the equipment. It is also the place where your staff will work and handle all the TV operations.

Depending on the type of TV station you want to run. You will need a TV studio to talk shows, interviews, and read the news.

Hire the Right Staff

The type of people that work with you will determine how far your TV station business will go. So it is important that you hire only people that believe in your dream. Also, check for successful TV hosts, engineers, and technicians. These people have gained some kind of experience in the broadcasting industry and they will help promote your business.

Hiring the best staff is going to cost a lot of money, so instead of going cheap on the hands you hire, you can open your doors to interns and offer them allowances to work for your company. For you to attract the smartest interns, your company needs to look attractive.

Generally, interns aren’t looking for a huge pay, but in need of the experience. The more attractive your company looks, the more interested they will be in signing up for an internship there.

Be Creative

Once your TV station has been set up, you will have to populate it with interesting, entertaining and creative content so as to draw the attention of viewers. The more viewers your TV station has, the more attractive you will look to advertisers and third party content transmitting companies.

Advertising and third party content transmission are the two main ways through which TV stations make money in Ghana. These privileges are usually reserved for the top TV stations in the country and the amount you can charge for advertisements depend on the number of active viewers you have on your TV station.

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How to Start a Radio Station in Ghana

October 27, 2019 by PGadmin

Are you looking for a reliable guide on how to start a radio station in Ghana, then you’re on the right page.

Setting up a radio station is relatively easy and the capital requirement is not as intensive as running other mass media businesses. Presently, there are over 30 active radio stations in Ghana, operating in different regions of the country.

If you plan to start up your own radio stations, you’ll have to choose your preferred region and be ready to compete for the attention of listeners in that region.

How to Start a Radio Station in Ghana

This guide will inform you of what it takes to start and run a radio station in Ghana

Minimum Standards For Setting Up of FM In Ghana

The National Communications Authority regulates and licenses FM broadcasting stations in the country. Before you can set up your radio station, you must obtain a license that allows you to operate in the country.

Below are the minimum requirements you must meet before you’ll be considered eligible for a license.

The owners shall Construct and install facilities for the provision of broadcast services within 2 years after authorization of frequency is granted.
The facilities shall be inspected by the authority to ensure it meets the required standards
The Authority shall issue a ‘Test Transmission Letter’ after inspection.
The radio station must have a means of contact for the public
The radio station must have a Security post/desk. And security personnel must be at the post during all the hours of operation.
The radio station must install a signboard close to its premises for purposes of identifying the station.
The radio station must acquire fire certificate from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for their premises and shall install fire extinguishers at the premises.
The radio station must make provisions for an alternative source of power to ensure the station is always on-air during the hours of operation.
The radio station must make known to the Authority regarding any amendment in their equipment installation before it is done.

Processes To Follow

Obtain A License

After going through the minimum standards as required by the National Communications Authority (NAC), you can go ahead to obtain a license from the authority.

Note: if you are not able to meet these standards within 2 years after the approval of your license, the authority will withdraw your license and you will not be allowed to operate the radio station.

Rent Office Space

You’ll either have to rent studio space or buy one for your radio station, You’ll need to get a space for your transmitter and another space for an alternative power supply (generator).

When getting an office space, you’ll need to take the equipment, people power, offices and the number of studios you want in the building into consideration. If you want to do more with your radio station, then you will need more space and definitely you will need to budget more for a larger office space.

Set Up the Radio Station

The license obtained from the NCA will include the grant of frequency authorization. It is through this frequency that you’ll be able to reach your listeners. Once you acquired the grant, you can go ahead to construct and install the necessary facilities. These facilities include antenna, transmitter, and studio equipment.

The studio set up and the equipment you’ll need depends on how you want your studio to look like. Some radio stations set up two studios; the main studio where live broadcasts are done and a production studio which allows someone to pre-record materials.

Production studios allow for smoother operation of the entire radio station and require less equipment to run.

You’ll also have to get the right transmitting equipment for the studio. It is important you get equipment of good quality so as to reach your listeners clearly

You will require a transmitter, antenna, and the structure (scaffold) to support the equipment. Transmission equipment usually costs a lot of purchase and install, so you should do some research before creating your budget.

Note: You have a maximum of 2 years to construct and install all your station equipment or your license will be withdrawn.

Get the Right Labor

The success of a radio station depends on its creativity and the staff. When employing part-time or full-time staff for your radio station, always look for the ones that have successful careers. If you’re tight on your budget, you can hire a few full-time staff and leave your doors open to interns.

Most interns are ready to work for free since what they really need is the experience. Always screen your interns and go for the competent ones.

Content Licensing

This shouldn’t be much of a problem as most of the content in Ghana are available to the public for free. However, if you want to play any content on the air that is licensed, you will be required to pay licensing fees.

It is better to avoid playing licensed content than to do so without paying the required fees.
Some artists and composers could go as far as suing your radio station for copyright infringement and you might have to part away with a huge sum either as settlement or due to frequent visits to the court (you could also incur heavy costs by hiring a lawyer).

Staying On Air

As said earlier, there are lots of radio stations operating in all the regions of Ghana. Some of these radio stations are still active while others have folded up. If you’re planning to open a radio station anytime soon, then you should be ready to face huge competition.

Most listeners will remain loyal to a radio station that is entertaining, educating, and creative. Every now and then you could invite celebrities like musical artists, showbiz individuals, sportspeople, and actors on air to keep your listeners entertained.

You can also run different educative segments and get creative with the kind of music you play. Most of the active and top radio stations in Ghana already have these things covered which is why they have remained at the top since their inception.

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How to Become a Freight Forwarder in Ghana

October 22, 2019 by PGadmin

Ghana, one of the coastal countries in Africa has a coastline that stretches 560km on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.

This makes Ghana one of the top places for professionals like freight forwarders to thrive.

If you plan on becoming a freight forwarder in Ghana and you’re looking for the steps to take and the requirements you will have to meet to become one, then you’re on the right page.

This article will serve as a guide to help you become a freight forwarder in Ghana and help you excel in the business.

Who is a Freight Forwarder?

A freight forwarder is a person or company that handles the transportation of goods for individuals or corporations from one destination to another. Freight forwarders do not move the goods, instead, they act as intermediaries between the shipper and transportation service.

They negotiate with various carriers on the cost of transportation and on extra services as required by the client. They also decide on the most economical and fastest route for transportation.

Freight forwarders are expected to be extremely knowledgeable in the elements of supply as their job is to make the import and export of goods easier and less stressful for the client.

Below are is the list of services required of freight forwarders in Ghana

Customs Clearance
International and import documentation
Insurance
Packing
Storage
Inventory management

How to Become a Freight Forwarder in Ghana

There is no straightforward way to becoming a freight forwarder in Ghana. This is due to the fact that certain people have pursued different careers before ending up in a shipping company. After several years of gaining experience in the company, they went ahead to open their own freight forwarding business.

But if you hope to become a professional, then you’ll have to get the proper education and get licensed by the Government of Ghana to operate as a legitimate freight forwarder in Ghana

Below are the right steps to take to become a freight forwarder in Ghana

Get the Right Education

As a freight forwarder, you will need to be educated on the various elements of the supply chain. The best place to get such education is at the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders.

Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders

The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders is a non-profit organization established in August 1985 to handle the training of individuals in the freight forwarding business and to promote quality services in the logistics industry.

It was initially named the National Association of Customs House Agents (NACHA). The institution maintains strong links with the Government, parastatals and other organizations that influence the logistics industry.

Members of the organization can access these links and stay ahead of other individuals in the industry that are not part of the institute. If you wish to successfully run a freight forwarding business, then it is a must that you become a member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders.

Courses in the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders

Higher Diploma Course

GIFF/FIATA HIGHER DIPLOMA COURSE IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

The Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management Course is offered by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA). This course is suitable for individuals aspiring to enter the freight forwarding business.

Upon completion of the course, the individual will be awarded the FIATA Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management and the GIFF Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management.

The course covers areas on the main elements of supply chain management. Below are the areas covered in the course;

Procurement Management
Strategic Management
Production & Operations Management
International Transport Management
Supply Chain Management
Financial Management
Global Marketing
Business Law
Human Resource Management
Entrepreneur Creativity

Requirement For This Course.

To study this course you’ll have to meet one of the following requirements

Be employed in a freight forwarding firm with a minimum of 2 years of employment
Be employed in a freight forwarding firm with University degree or diploma
Possess a degree or diploma from a reputable university.

Course Duration

The duration of the course is 1 year.

Course Fees

GIFF Members GH¢ 2,500
Non-GIFF Members GH¢ 3,000
International Trainees GH¢ 3,500

Diploma Course

THE GIFF/FIATA DIPLOMA COURSE IN INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDING

This course covers general freight forwarding topics applicable in all modes of carriage.

Upon completion of the course, the individual will be awarded the FIATA Higher Diploma in International Freight Forwarding and the GIFF Diploma in Supply Chain Management.

Below are the 14 areas of focus in the course.

Introduction to Freight Forwarding
Maritime Transport
Multimodal Transport
Sea Containers
Air Transport
Road Transport
Rail Transport
Inland waterway Transport
Customs Procedures
Logistics & Warehousing
Transport and Liability Insurance
ICT in Forwarding
Dangerous Goods
Safety and Security

Requirements For This Course

To study this course you’ll have to meet one of the following requirements

Be employed in a freight forwarding firm with a minimum of 2 years employment
Be employed in a freight forwarding firm with University degree or diploma
Possess a degree or diploma from a reputable university.

Course Duration

The duration of the course is 1 year.

Course Fees

GIFF Members GH¢ 2,500
Non-GIFF Members GH¢ 3,000
International Trainees GH¢ 3,500

Certificate Course

The GIFF Certificate Course covers freight forwarding theory and practice. Below are the modules in the course

Introduction to freight forwarding
Introduction to logistics
Introduction to transportation
Introduction to customs procedures
Business communication
Statistics and business mathematics

Requirements for the Course

School Certificate, BECE, and NVTI

Course Fees

GIFF Members GH¢ 1,300
Non-GIFF Members GH¢ 1,500
International Trainees GH¢ 1,800

Join International Freight Forwarding Organizations

As seen above, the GIFF offers several privileges to its members by reducing their fees and offering links to potential clients. It will be in your best interested to become a member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders before you start the course.

You should also become a member of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders to increase your chances of becoming successful in the global landscape.

Get Licensed

Once you’ve gotten your certificates and memberships, you can then get licensed by the government so as to operate as a registered freight forwarder in Ghana.

Without the license, your business will be considered illegal.

Connect

The next step is to connect with individuals and organizations. Platforms like GIFF and FIATA already provide you with access to clients, so all you have to do is step up your marketing and communication skills so as to get clients.

Those are the necessary steps to take to become a freight forwarder in Ghana.

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How to Become a Fashion Designer in Ghana (2020)

October 22, 2019 by PGadmin

The steps to becoming a fashion designer in Ghana are similar to that of most professional courses. You will have to get educated, learn and possess a set of skills and set yourself apart from the multitude of fashion designers in Ghana trying to make a name for themselves in the industry.

The fashion industry is one of the most competitive fields in Ghana and the world. So to become successful, you will need to be more than an artistic and creative designer. You’ll have to possess the right listening and decision-making skills that will give you an edge over other fashion designers.

How to Become a Fashion Designer in Ghana

We are going to take you through the steps you should take if you want to become a fashion designer in Ghana.

Confirm that Fashion Design is Your Calling

Fashion design isn’t a means of employment, it is more of an art and it requires that you possess extreme artistic and creative skills before you can break into the industry.

This is why you should only opt for fashion design if you have the talent or zeal for it, as you’ll require them to excel in the industry.

Choose a Niche

Fashion design is very broad and there are several areas of specialization that could suit your skills. You could be a footwear designer, menswear designer, womenswear designer, children fashion designer or accessories designer. There are other careers in the fashion industry apart from that of a designer.

They include

Fashion Writer/Journalist
Fashion Merchandising
Patent Making and Product Management
Fashion Public Relations
Personal Stylist
Fashion Stylist
Fashion Illustrator
Fashion Consultant
Garment Technologist
Fashion Photography

Go For A Fashion Design Course

The best way to become a fashion designer is to pursue a professional course in fashion design. However, there are other ways to become a fashion designer. You could join a fashion design company or become an apprentice for a fashion designer. This way you’ll get all the necessary skills and access to the important equipment that aids fashion designers in their art.

Back to studying a professional course. Pursuing a course in fashion design is the best option to consider if you can afford it. This way you can easily meet up with other like-minded fashion designers, professionals and get access to the latest tools in fashion design.

To study fashion design, you must not have to go to college. In fact, many universities don’t give much focus to fashion design so you wouldn’t be learning from the best or using the latest equipment in fashion design if you opt for these colleges.

There are only a few fashion design schools in Ghana that take fashion design really seriously. These schools offer short and long courses with flexible payment and study schedules that should suit the lifestyle of the student.

Below are some of the fashion design courses in Ghana

Undergraduate Degree – Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design
Certificate Program – Cert
Diploma – Professional Diploma in Fashion Design, Diploma in Textile and Fashion Design
Professional Certificate Courses – like Professional Certificate in Fashion Design and Creation, Professional Certificate in Textile Design, and Professional Certificate in Garment Construction.

Get the Necessary Skills

There are several skills a fashion designer must possess if they want to stand out from the crowd. While being creative and artistic or having the gift is important, the skills below will help you go farther than most in the fashion industry.

Drawing Skills: To be a successful fashion designer, you must know how to express your art and how to put your ideas on paper. Strong drawing skills help make your ideas clearer and easier to create in reality. Without this skill, it could be difficult for you to become a renowned fashion designer.
Visualization Skills: This aids your drawing skills and helps you perfect your craft. With strong visualization skills, you can easily invent new ideas and bring these ideas to life.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills: As a fashion designer, you’ll have to collaborate with colleagues and clients. To do this perfectly, you will have to develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Business and Negotiation Skills: Whatever you do it for fun, fame or money, you’ll have to learn business skills to succeed. These skills will help you to further your career and to run a successful fashion business. You can get these skills by taking a Master’s degree in Business and Management.
Confidence: While this isn’t much of a skill, it is really important. The fashion industry is not a place for the faint of heart. You will have to develop high self-esteem and be confident in your art.
Ability to Develop New Ideas: The most successful fashion designers in Ghana are the most competitive ones. They are trendsetters, leading the flock and taking the bulk of the gains. If you want to become one of the best, you’ll have to be competitive and develop new ideas that are generally acceptable.

Get Connected

As a fashion designer, you should have as many contacts as possible. Some of these contacts could recommend you in the future while others would employ you for your services. Look out for paid and unpaid internships. Always perform your best in whatever occasion you find yourself.

Also, try out as many fashion competitions as you can. Whether you win or not, you can add them to your portfolio and build your value as a fashion designer.

Fashion Design Schools In Ghana

There are several fashion design schools in Ghana that offer exceptional services. These schools are quite affordable and offer the best teaching services while providing you access to the latest tools in fashion design.

Some of the best fashion design schools in Ghana include

School of Fashion and Design Ghana
Riohs Originate
2^nd Image International
BlueCrest School of Fashion and Design
Libelt School of Fashion
Abbi Creation of Fashion
Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design
Afra K Fashion School

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Types of Companies in Ghana

August 25, 2019 by PGadmin

If you want to register your business in Ghana, then it is important that you know the types of companies that can be registered. The Companies Act – 1963 (Act 179), Section 9 only allows for some types of companies.

You can choose between any of these companies depending on the number of employees you have and how you want your company to be viewed.

Types of Companies in Ghana

There are 6 types of companies that can be registered in Ghana. It is important that you go through the privileges and limitations of any company type before settling for that type.

Below, we are going to reviews the types of companies in Ghana. This will help you understand the privileges and limitations of each company type and help you make a decision on which company that suits your business operations.

1. Company Limited Shares

A company limited by shares simply means a company that has the liability of its shareholders limited to a certain amount. The shareholders of such a company have limited liability and the shares of the company cannot be offered to the general public.

In this type of company, the personal asset of the shareholder is protected. This would mean a lot in a situation where the company goes bankrupt. If such an event occurs, the shareholders will only lose the money they have invested in the company.

A company limited by shares can be either a public company or a private company. The major difference between public limited companies and private limited companies is that the shares of a private company may not be offered to the general public. Thus, its shares cannot be traded on a public stock exchange.

A private limited company is mostly favorable to small companies, however, the company’s disclosure requirements are higher.

You can register this company type at the Registrar’s General Department. To register a company of this type, you will need at least two individuals representing the directors of the company and at least one person representing a shareholder in the entity with objects which are for the generation of profit.

2. Company Limited by Guarantee

This company type best suits non-profit organizations that require a legal personality. With this company type, the liability of its members is limited to a certain amount as the members may contribute to the assets of the company in the event of bankruptcy.

Generally, a company limited by guarantee does not have shares or a shareholder. The members who are usually referred to as guarantors will not have any profit distributed to them, that’s if, a non-profit organization is registered under this company type.

In the case that the company to be registered is not a non-profit organization, it can distribute its profit to its members.

With this company type, the personal finances of the members are protected. If the company goes bankrupt, the members will have to pay the company debts up to the number of their guarantees.

Also, such companies are not liable to pay corporate tax, however, they will have to pay income tax on behalf of any salaried employee in the company.

A Company Limited by Guarantee and A Company Limited by Shares are jointly recognized as “Limited Liability Companies”.

3. Company Unlimited by Shares

A company unlimited by shares is similar to a company limited by shares. However, there are several differences that you should note when signing up for such a company. A company unlimited by shares is riskier as the personal assets of the members of the company are not protected.

In the event that the company is unable to pay off its debts, the members wouldn’t only lose their investment but also their personal assets to the creditors.

This company is registered in a similar way a company limited by shares is registered. The major advantage of this type of company is improved creditor confidence.

4. Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship refers to a business entity that is owned and run by one person. This person or sole trader is entitled to all the profits of the business and liable for all the liabilities of the business.

A sole proprietorship is not a legal entity. It can be operated under the name of its owner or do business under a factious name.

This type of company is best for small-scale businesses. It is very popular as it requires minimal cost to set up. However, if the owner of the business wishes to operate under a business name, the owner would have to register such name at the Registrar General’s Department.

Owners of a sole proprietorship have complete control over the business profits which is quite advantageous. Unfortunately, they are also solely responsible for all the losses, debts, and liabilities of the business.

While such a business is easy to open and could cost less than most other company types, it is best you completely know all the advantages and disadvantages before settling for such.

<<How to register a Sole Proprietorship in Ghana>>

5. External Company

An external company is a business incorporated outside Ghana that wishes to establish a firm in Ghana. This might be a branch from where it will run its operations in the country.

An external company is subject to the corporate tax and income tax in Ghana. However, the company wouldn’t be regulated by the laws in Ghana but by the laws of the country in which it was originally incorporated.

6. Incorporated Partnership

An incorporated partnership is an entity registered by two or more people for the generation of profit. This company type does not offer protection of the assets of the members.

There are several rules to creating an incorporated partnership including the maximum number of people that can open such a company. Usually, the maximum number of people that can register an incorporated partnership is 20.

Wrapping Up

Going through the list of the type of companies, you can find several advantages and disadvantages of each company. If you want protection for your personal assets then a private limited liability company makes for the best company. However, there are several limitations to registering such a company.

A sole proprietorship is the best company type for small-scale businesses. They are free of several taxes that are imposed on private limited liability companies. They also cost less to set up and run.