In this very first edition of Hunting Hurdles in 2019, we talk to Johnson Opoku-Boateng, managing director of consultancy firm, QA Consult.

1. Could you kindly introduce yourself?

My name is Johnson Opoku-Boateng. I am the Managing Director and Lead Consultant at QA Consult. I am a Food Technologist by profession and also have expertise in soap making, cosmetics and Supply Chain Management. I’ve spent over 10 years of my working life at Unilever Ghana Ltd and have worked as Factory Hygienist/ISO Scientist, QA Manager, Production Manager (Foods), Asst. Procurement Manager and R&D Manager. I am also a contributing writer for the Business & Financial Times newspaper on industry and consumer safety related issues. I co-founded QA Consult with my wife Eunice Opoku-Boateng who is currently the Managing Director (Operations) for the business. We are blessed with 4 children.

• Tell us all about QA Consult and what you do?

QA Consult was set up to offer training and consultancy services in the manufacturing, hospitality and service sectors of our economy. Specific areas include ISO management systems set-up which includes quality, food safety, occupational health, safety and environmental management systems. Training of personnel cuts across the above listed areas including quality and food safety training, internal audit training, production-related training programmes and capacity building for factories, hotels and restaurants. QA Consult also is also into manufacturing set up from scratch and catering facility set up. We are also into quality, food safety, environment and Health & Safety audits not forgetting our expertise in regulatory affairs – all activities regarding product registration with Food & Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Protection Agency and other Regulatory bodies.

Our vision – we aspire to be the most preferred provider of world class solutions along the value chain for our clients.

Our mission – we promote the quality and safety of products and services by providing competitive consultancy and cost-effective training in management systems, industrial hygiene and safety at work.

• How long have you been running this business?

QA Consult started operations in 2015 and hence has been in existence for over 3 years.

• What gave you the idea for your business?

As a quality and consumer safety advocate, I have always wanted to attach myself to something that could go a long way to improve the way you do things especially in the manufacturing sector. Poor quality is capable of killing any product or service for that matter and hence my contribution to society was to set up a business that will have a direct impact on the way quality was handled in every business. You would also know, that we have a big challenge in this country when it comes to food safety. Annual outbreaks of cholera and the unending food poisoning incidents go a long way to weaken the economy. This business is set up to be a catalyst for quality and consumer health through sound training, consultancy and advocacy.

• Did you tell people about your idea? How did they receive it?

My wife has always been my partner in such discussions. I also bounced this idea off a couple of senior colleagues and few friends. The response then was so positive I thought we should have started much earlier than we did.

• What kind of market did you have in mind for your services?

Quality management cuts across the fabric of the business world and so the first market that was so obvious was Industry, especially manufacturing. Concurrently we thought of any place where food is prepared/manufactured and sold on a commercial basis and that brought into focus, food processing industries and the hospitality industry – hotels, restaurants etc. Finally, we thought of the service industry with respect to setting them up in ISO Management systems.

• How difficult was it to start?

Well I will say, it was quite challenging especially when the company started during the power crisis. It was quite a task to convince people to part with some money for management systems setup, training and most often consulting. We had to sell off our family car and pulled all the savings we had in addition to set up an office at home at the time.

• What challenges do you face on a day-to-day basis?

The issue of quality and consumer safety hasn’t still caught on with the population and hence companies are having a field day. If consumers will not usually complain and even drag companies to court for poor quality, such companies may not see the need to call for our services. You will agree with me that, when people suffer from food poisoning, they hardly get authorities to question companies who manufactured those foods right? We therefore have to push hard to get SMEs especially, to call for our services. Majority of our clients are therefore the multinationals and large indigenous companies because they do a lot of exports and you cannot export without proper quality management systems and for the food industry, proper food safety management systems.

• What has been the worst experience of running your business?

I wouldn’t say we’ve had such an experience by the grace of God, but what sometimes hit us hard, are some of the payment terms we’re given by some categories of clients. When cashflow is hit, it affects several statutory and business obligations. You may have to sometimes go into your savings to bridge the gap.

• What has been the best experience?

We always have one or more projects running in spite of initial difficulties we faced convincing clients. We’ve been able to achieve very stretching targets for some of our clients which is translating into direct positive impact on their bottom lines. We’ve also set up a food safety management system for one of our major multinational companies who are certified to Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) which is based on ISO 22000.

• How do you market your business?

The services of our company is marketed on our secured website https://qaconsultgh.com , our facebook page, in the print media and sometimes on Whatsapp. Thankfully we get a lot of referrals from clients we work for.

• What has the response to QA Consult been so far?

Knowledge of QA Consult and what we do keeps growing year on year to the extent that, we get a lot of invitation for collaboration from similar companies abroad. Some clients of QA Consult include Unilever, Ghacem and Cevag. I must admit though we have a lot of work to do, to create awareness of our contribution to industry in general.

• Do you have any employees? What does someone have to do to work with you?

We do have three permanent employees and six very experienced consultants who work on various QA Consult projects across the country. Anyone who has the passion to work with us should send us an email or call our numbers. With the requisite qualification we can take the person on.

• How does entrepreneurship compare to a regular job?

I think the liberty to take decisions and act swiftly on pertinent issues without delays is the best part of being an entrepreneur. Whether you are two or three people partnering, the instincts are similar – “speed is a currency”. On the other hand, a regular job assures you a monthly income but at the initial stages of a start-up, an entrepreneur may not be assured of a monthly income. So, there are both advantages and disadvantages. The joy in being an entrepreneur to me, is the fact that, you directly impact the lives of people in the society, and that fulfills my dream.

• What have you learnt about running a business that no one could have told you before you started?

Your obligations as a business to the government and the cost of running the business is normally higher than could initially be anticipated. Income tax, P.A.Y.E, SSNIT contributions, cost of renting an office, cost of electricity, commuting etc. could take a significant chunk of your revenue and you could in some instances struggle to break even.

• What can government do to help young entrepreneurs?

I personally think the enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive is not adequate. Governments are quick to talk about industrializing Ghana, but the harsh business climate makes it a challenging feat to accomplish. What makes it worse – the GRA do not know the difference between a start-up and a large company. Sanctions are applied across board without regard to the sacrifices of a few who would want to set-up business to lessen the unemployment burden.

• Any advice to other entrepreneurs or would-be entrepreneurs?

There are a lot more problems waiting for solutions, not to talk about solutions to otherwise no problems. On the latter, businesses can be developed just to enhance life and not necessarily to solve a problem. For instance, without Whatsapp, we were comfortable using conventional text messaging. Someone sat down to develop a system that would enhance conventional text messaging, right? If you have the passion to start a business in your area of expertise don’t be afraid of tomorrow, start it now. If you are already in it and you’re making it big, don’t forget to save for tomorrow. If you are struggling as an entrepreneur today, don’t forget there’s always a brighter tomorrow, keep going.

• How can someone get your services?

QA Consult has enough expertise to cover the entire world. The following are our contact details

Tel: 0244691674, 0209996002

Email: info@qaconsultgh.com

Website: www.qaconsultgh.com

Location: Shell Signboard- Spintex Road

Facebook: @qaconsultgh

Twitter: @qaconsult_gh

LinkedIn: QA Consult

Instagram: qaconsultgh

• Anything else you’d like to share?

It is all in you! Starting a business normally begins with the idea and most importantly the passion to do! Although you may need some money at the beginning, the driving force is that which drives you and the expertise you would want to trade for some returns. Above all, let the reason why you go into business not only be money, but your resolve to solve existing problems or enhancing the lives of people in society. Like someone said, prepare, plan and pray.  Success will come in full force.

Thank you!