Building a Life and Business in Ghana: A 30-Year Journey

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Recorded12 Jun 2025

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What happens when life takes you thousands of miles from home to a country you never planned to stay in? For Jolanda, what began as a four-year assignment in Ghana with her husband and young children in 1995 transformed into a 30-year journey of building a life, family, and thriving business in West Africa.Her story begins with culture shock – the crowded airport, the unfamiliar sounds of frogs in drainage gutters, and the simplicity of life in 1990s Accra. Yet within these challenges, she discovered the warmth of Ghanaian people and opportunities that wouldn't have been possible in her native Italy. As Jolanda navigated motherhood in a foreign country, she progressed from administrative roles at the British High Commission to leadership positions in Ghana's growing real estate sector.The turning point came unexpectedly in 2014 when a breast cancer diagnosis forced her to resign from her position. Instead of retreating, she used this challenging period to envision her future, founding Akka Kappa Limited while recovering. Her company now manages over 1,300 property listings and has earned international recognition for excellence.What sets Jolanda's approach apart is her unwavering commitment to customer experience. She shares candid insights about the challenges of maintaining high standards in a service business, the importance of continuous staff training, and how passion must be paired with discipline for success. Her observations about workforce development in Ghana are particularly valuable for anyone building teams in emerging markets.Beyond business wisdom, this conversation reveals profound truths about family, resilience, and creating opportunity. From raising multilingual children to navigating healthcare challenges abroad, Jolanda demonstrates how adversity can become a catalyst for growth. Her advice to follow your passion resonates whether you're considering an international move or simply facing a career crossroads.Subscribe to Konnected Minds Podcast for more stories of resilience and entrepreneurship from visionaries shaping business landscapes around the world. Join us at our first live event on August 29th at the British Council – details in the description below.Support the showWatch the video episode of this on YouTube - https://linktr.ee/konnectedminds Host: https://www.instagram.com/derrick.abaitey/ Join Entrepreneurs Community: https://www.skool.com/konnected-academy

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