Joseph Nartey Shares His Journey as an Entrepreneur
Joseph Nartey, the founder of Joenart, was a guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Gh show with DJ Nyaami, where he shared his entrepreneurial journey, challenges, and insights on business growth in Ghana.
Born in Accra, Joseph is currently running his business in Amasaman, where he specializes in graphic design and sells phone accessories. Remarkably, he learned most of his skills through YouTube tutorials. From a young age, he had a natural talent for repairing gadgets—taking them apart and fixing them. He was also passionate about drawing characters like Teletubbies, Spiderman, and Batman.
After completing high school with a background in General Arts, which included subjects like Government, French, Literature, and Mathematics, he realized he wasn’t passionate about his course. Instead, he focused on repairing phones as a side hustle. For four years, he dedicated himself to learning the basics of electronics, eventually purchasing a laptop to study graphic design.
Joseph credits his father, Robin Darko, for encouraging him to combine his skills in electronics and graphic design. He believes that skilled jobs are the best because historically, people were not dependent on salaries—they created their own livelihoods. This realization pushed him to establish his own business rather than work in someone else’s office.
During his electrical engineering studies, his lecturers emphasized the importance of research. He met a friend who was skilled in online research, and this connection helped him buy his first laptop. This research mindset played a key role in his knowledge development, and his passion for graphic design grew stronger.
Now, four years into his business, Joseph has expanded from selling under an umbrella to owning a container shop. Looking back at his progress, he firmly believes Ghana is the best place to start and grow a business. His approach to entrepreneurship focuses on identifying problems in his community and solving them, particularly in phone repair and related services.
Joseph also touched on the societal pressure to travel abroad. He believes that Ghanaian education is designed to produce employees rather than employers. Many graduates finish university without considering starting their own businesses—they are conditioned to look for jobs instead. He noted that while many people admire those making money through business, they refuse to engage in similar work due to societal expectations.
He criticized the belief that success is only found abroad, stating that many people travel overseas without fully understanding how things work in Ghana first. He pointed out that while foreigners can move to Ghana with their families and thrive, Ghanaians struggle to do the same abroad.
Joseph also highlighted the issue of unrealistic expectations in relationships when it comes to travel. Many men spend years abroad hoping their partners will wait for them, only to face disappointments. He warned against the mindset that there are no opportunities in Ghana, as it limits people’s ability to see and seize opportunities locally.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, he shared how he was scammed multiple times at the passport office while trying to travel abroad. Eventually, he gave up on that pursuit and focused on building his business. He emphasized that people are more willing to invest in helping someone travel abroad than in supporting a local business.
He Stated:
If I ask my family members to invest GHC 100,000 in my business, they won’t support me. But if I tell them I have a connection to travel to the UK and need GHC 170,000, they’ll be willing to give it to me.
Unfortunately, I was deceived by an agent—I got scammed.
Despite the challenges, Joseph remains focused on growing his business and empowering others. He plans to venture into training phone repairers and believes that with determination and focus, one can become a billionaire in Ghana.
His social media handles are Joenart Company limited.
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