How did it start?
From Glass Jar Users Association
The Glass Jar Users Association (GJUA) has, since its inception in 1996, been introducing its members to new technologies to enhance their operations for increased income and improved livelihoods. These have included the promotion of the use of fuel efficient clean stoves such as the LPG, improved saw dust stove and coal pot “Egyaapa” to its over 300 members engaged in the production and marketing of pepper sauces, jams, marmalade, fruit juices, peanut butter and honey locally and internationally. This has been possible due to the emphasis placed on the effects of fuel wood usage on members health, the environment, as well as the time and energy spent gathering and using it.
To Ndzema Gh Ltd
Ndzema Gh Ltd was setup in the early 2000s by Mrs J. Maud Kordylas (née Dagadu) and her husband Henri Maryan Kordylas, to respond to the urgent need expressed by the members of the Glass Jar User’s association to access quality packaging materials by small and medium scale entrepreneurs. As there are no glass manufacturing factories in Ghana and the sub region, all glass packaging material need to be imported. However, small and medium scale companies do not have the financial capacity to import, as the minimum order is a full container, further they do not require such quantities.
It was therefore decided to form an association to put together the requirement of the members of GJUA, to increase their purchasing strength. A company was formed in order to manage the importation of the glass jars and bottle for distribution to the members, giving rise to Ndzema Gh Ltd.
Ndzema Gh Ltd, pre-finances the importation of the glass jars and bottle, reconditions them into cartons of 24 for sale to the members for their production. Members come and purchase cartons of jars on a weekly or daily basis for their production to meet orders from their clients.
As Ndzema is formed as an operation to help small scale manufacturers by providing access to quality packaging material, we put very little margin on our products, so as to enable these manufacturers be competitive on the market. This is why you may realize from the form completed that the net income is marginally low, as Ndzema is not run as a profit making organization. The selling price is determined to cover all operational cost.
Our operation has been going on for over 10 years now and keeps growing as our members operations grow and new members join. Today we have members coming in from also Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria to have access to packaging materials. We have even had a trade delegation from East Africa come to see our setup to see if they could replicate our model in their sub-region.
To Enoli Earth for Growth!
2 years ago, we formed a small reflexion group to think about how to expand Ndzema’s activities to other sectors, involving sustainable and social issues. We tackled subjects such as what to do to transforrm plastic waste into an economic activity, how to create an economic outlet for seasonal agricultural production surpluses, and other issues. The group met almost every saturday morning on Skype to brainstorm on these issues , and finally gave birth to Enoli Earth for Growth.
Our aim is to provide access to professional information, tools and guidance so that each individual or entity wanting to develop a local business on the African continent, can accomplish his or her entrepreneurial dream from wherever level she/he starting.
