Accra, Ghana, June 23, 2020//-Ms Sarfowaa Duncan, a young Ghanaian has dropped a high-paying banking job to pursue her entrepreneurial dream to the surprise of many.
It was a surprise because many young people were craving for that opportunity but they never got it.
Several factors influenced her decision
Several factors influenced Ms Duncan’s decision of becoming an entrepreneur. Firstly, having being rejected a couple of times, she told herself that she was going to build her own table and invite others onto it.
The second one is the passion to build a successful business and create financial freedom for her family and descendants.
Thirdly, the zeal to impact lives through volunteerism. Ms Duncan believes in adding value to others so working for herself grants her a much better opportunity to do so rather than her previous banking job.
Today, Ms Duncan is the Founder and Business Manager of Duncs Consult, a leading Ghanaian owned business solution hub which primary objective is to provide business solution to startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana and the sub-region.
How did she start?
In a rare interview about her business Ms Duncan told African Eye Report: “I have always been in business. I started selling when I was in primary school. I remember I used to sell oranges in front of our house back then and I also at the Ayigya market sometimes”.
She was also running a fashion business back in the university so she believes she is a born entrepreneur and finding those traits and staring Duncs Consult wasn’t much of a task.
Stood Against Odds
She stood against all odds to build the fastest growing business solution hub in the country with small savings and family support.
Ms Duncan narrated: It’s been tough. Just like any entrepreneur, I haven’t had it easy. I am most of the time torn between achieving great results with very limited resources”.
There have been days that she had to do a meal a day because she was saving for a business related project.
“You see, the thing about entrepreneurship is, it never gets easier, the challenges grown with you. It’s quite interesting, the bigger your business grows, the bigger the challenges you face. But in all these, I haven’t for a single day rejected embarking on this journey. I am proud of every bit of it and I know that it will be worth it in the end”, Ms Duncan recounted.
Meteoric rise
From a humble beginning, Duncs Consult is becoming a household name in Ghana as it continues to provide bespoke consultancy services for many startups and SMEs in Ghana and beyond.
With the meteoric rise in the numbers of startups and SMEs in the country, most industry watchers say Duncs Consult is one the companies to watch.
The company specializes in Customer Service (training, consultancy, advisory, keynotes) misery shopping and business support services (Startup advisory, Business registration, website design etc.). It seeks to add value to its customers by providing them with essential tools for market excellence.
Her starting-up story is not different from the hundreds of entrepreneurs profiled by the African Eye Report but her ambition to provide excellent tailor-made solutions to hundreds of startups and SMEs is unique.
In her words: “At Duncs Consult, we have identified who our existing and prospective clients are and have designed customized solutions to meet their needs been it Customer Service or Business Support”.
Ms Duncan’s clients are satisfied with her services and they keep talking about her and more people get to know her brand. And, she is being rewarded with more clients and more revenue as well.
The company is succeeding because Ms Duncan continues to serve the needs of the people. Her clients are her most prized assets, thus providing them with quality and prompt services are her topmost priority.
She guided the way and did it with skill, style and high passion and dexterity. She had the right business solutions and at the right time – which translated into high demand on a mass market scale.
But all that would have been worthless without her unique brand of commitment, high energy and sheer determination, and the zeal to change the business solution industry in the country.
Her vision
Her vision is to become the go-to business solution hub for startups and SMEs by coming out with more innovative customized solutions to address their needs.
“I also see Duncs Consult having branches in both Kumasi and Accra in the next three years with a number of youth on our payroll”, Ms Duncan added.
As a young indomitable entrepreneur, Ms Duncan never allowed the different headwinds to weigh her down. She rather turned those challenges into golden opportunities.
Entrepreneurship is a key driver of our economy. Wealth and a high majority of jobs are created by small businesses started by entrepreneurially-minded individuals like Ms Sarfowaa Duncan.
Advice to the youth
“It is not everyone who can become an entrepreneur and that is okay. If you find fulfillment in your fifth to ninth job, do it with all passion, it is absolutely fine.
On the other hand, if you decide to be an entrepreneur, you should be ready for the sacrifices that come with it. It is not all rosy, but with determination, passion, and consistency it will be worth it in the end”.
Also above all, be diligent in your works. She is motivated by setting the pace for the next generation of financially liberated African women.
The legacy
Ms Duncan who has passionate for customer satisfaction, business growth and sustainability, wants to build an integrity based organization that transcends generations.
Although she stands for equity and integrity, her passion for financial liberation of the African woman is never in doubt.
Diverse cultural settings and education
Ms Duncan grew up in a normal middle class Ghanaian home with her parents and siblings. She had her basic education thus primary and Junior Secondary School (JSS) now Junior High School (JHS) in Boakye Memorial International School and Yaa Achiaa Girls’ M/A JHS respectively in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
She moved to Academy of Christ the King for her secondary education in Cape Coast in the Central Region.
The young Ms Duncan then moved back to Kumasi for her bachelor’s degree at Garden City University College, Kenyase in the Ashanti Region.
She is currently residing and working in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Having been exposed to such diverse cultural settings has really helped shape her life.
Ms Duncan has learnt to appreciate and accept people for who they are and what they stand for.
Ms Duncan holds a Degree in Business Administration, a Diploma in Customer Service, from the Garden City University College.
Masterclasses
She is well vest in the area of customer service. Ms Duncan has facilitated Customer Service Masterclasses which brought together service providers from various sectors of the economy and enlightened them on customer service related topics.
Training and coaching
She has over the years also facilitated customer service training and coaching sessions for business owners, restaurant owners, lounges, fuel stations, supermarkets, driver unions, church associations, among others.
She is currently running a Highly Discounted Online Customer Service training and consultancy service for businesses.
The pretty business manager believes that distance shouldn’t be a barrier for business owners and employees to access quality consultation services in this day and age. Ms Duncan has been featured on several media platforms including radio and TV platforms in the country.
Awards
Ms Duncan was also adjudged the Customer Service Consultant of the Year 2019-2020 at the 8th Ghana Customer Service Awards. She was awarded for her sterling performance in Customer Service Consultancy.
Aside business, Sarfowaa Duncan is very passionate about Mental Health, Women Empowerment and Children. As a result, she has two Facebook accounts- ‘Sarfowaa & Friends, a mental health advocacy group and ‘Limitless She’ which is convocation of female entrepreneurs.
Ms Sarfowaa Duncan is one of the young entrepreneurs to be watched out for in the next few years to come.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
