Ghana - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The process of turning rice husks into an additive for paint is the focus of our project. This ingredient makes paint more heat resistant and helps tropical homes stay cool.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The rice husks are ground to the proper size after being obtained from Ghanaian rice farms. Before use, the paint is supplemented with the ground rice husks. After homogenizing the mixture, it is applied to the building's exterior walls. The paint acts as a barrier, keeping the inside of the building cool by preventing the walls from absorbing heat throughout the day.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Because they never utilize the rice husks after milling, rice farmers in Ghana find it challenging to dispose of them. It ends up dirtying the surroundings when it rains or when it is windy because they usually leave it outside in a heap. To further intensify climate change, they frequently burn the rice husks. Furthermore, especially in the northern districts, temperatures during the day in Ghana can reach up to 35 degrees Celsius. This causes discomfort, dehydration, and decreased productivity in carrying out everyday duties for the people living in such areas.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Both people and farm animals, particularly in tropical regions, benefit from having a cool environment in their residence, which helps them work more efficiently. Apart from drawing in investors, rice fields with clean environments stop diseases from spreading. Because our project utilizes rice husks instead of burning them, which releases greenhouse gases into the environment, it also helps mitigate climate change. These farmers also won't breathe in smoke from burning rice husks, which would harm their respiratory systems. Employment opportunities for individuals, particularly young people, can be created by training some residents in the communities on how to apply the paint and additive mixture to various types of housing units.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The intended beneficiaries are the rice farmers, residents of the communities surrounding the rice farms, and those who live in tropical areas but cannot afford the cost of a cooling system.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-03-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

3

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Sajjad Braimah, with a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Engineering and 3 years of experience in engineering, crop farming, and tutoring, is passionate about a green world. Hadizat Ahmed, a passionate advocate for the circular economy, has actively participated in volunteering activities like Green Ghana Day and tree planting exercises. Appiah-Kubi Kelvin, a Renewable Energy Engineering graduate, is passionate about technology advancement and its potential to revolutionize the world through biogas, solar systems, and crop farming. Tekpor David, a Renewable Energy Engineering graduate with two years of experience, envisions a world with clean, affordable, and sustainable energy practices.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Through the creation of jobs through our project, community members will have the opportunity to earn a living and improve their quality of life.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Our project helps keep rice fields neat all the time, which helps stop the spread of diseases.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Through our project, people of all genders will have a platform to develop their creative and innovative potential. We welcome members of all gender identities and are very gender inclusive.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Some residents will receive training from our staff on how to properly mix and apply the heat-resistant paint to homes. Upon completion of training, individuals can work for our company and make a living.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our startup is fundamental to the progress of inclusive and sustainable industrialization, innovation, and the construction of resilient infrastructure. Our project, which is centered on the green economy, advances sustainable industrial growth, empowers communities through inclusive practices, and participates in the development of essential assets. At the core of what we do is innovation, which propels constructive change and leaves a lasting impression in support of these vital global goals.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our effort is assisting with climate action by preventing the burning of rice husks, which emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

3

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

2

05.08 Justification

The majority of people who live in the nation's tropical areas cannot afford air conditioning units. Due to their importation, the heat-resistant paints that are now available on the market are quite costly. When compared to using an imported heat-resistant paint, the cost of a heat-resistant paint for local usage is significantly lower thanks to our product, which is created from locally sourced rice husks and transforms regular emulsion paint into a heat-resistant paint.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Stores that import heat-resistant paint are our biggest rivals. In addition to saving money on heat-resistant paint, our product does not negatively impact locals' health and encourages them to buy more paint made in the country.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, our company's main goal is to teach more women to become both entrepreneurs and employees of ours. We intend to open branches in every district of the nation in the future, with more than half of them being run by women.