- as it eyes five shared office spaces by end-2023
The nation’s enduring socio-political stability, coupled with the rapidly-expanding pool of local talent, guarantees that it will be a key destination for a wide variety of investments on the continent.
This is according to the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AfricaWorks, Gregoire Schwebig – who argues that despite the domino-effect of tighter global economic conditions on the domestic economy, Ghana still retains its appeal to the wider market due to its relative stability, large youthful and vibrant base, as well as its growing middle-class.
“Accra is one of our key markets, and that should not come as a surprise seeing the number of factors which has Ghana ahead of its peers in attracting investment,” he said on the sidelines of AfricaWork’s formal launch of operations in the country.
His view is consistent with the results from a number of recent surveys, including one by leading audit and advisory firm Deloitte. In its 2022 Africa Investment Attractiveness Index, which pooled the responses of almost 200 CEOs from both Francophone and Anglophone African countries, Accra was top of the list of African countries seen to be most attractive for investment.
Since its foray into the Ghanaian market in 2020, the first uniquely pan-African flexible workspace provider has opened two workspaces within the capital’s primary business enclave.
The first is at Volta Place in Airport Residential area, and the second at the Stanbic Heights, Airport City; both are practically at 100 percent occupancy, and both house some global names such as L’Oreal and Toyota, as well as the continent-leading fintech, Paystack.
Long haul
Detailing AfricaWorks’ intention of rolling out three more shared, flexible office spaces by the end of 2023, its CEO said the bullish drive is not a short-term approach, as AfricaWorks intends to be at the forefront of future-of-work transition in the country over the next couple of decades.
“We are being realistic in our expectations, and that includes expecting to be in the Ghanaian market for the foreseeable future. This is not a short, jolly ride; we expect to continue having conversations in another decade or two, and even more,” he remarked.
“Ultimately, what we want to do is to provide businesses with a setting that allows them to focus on their goals. We want to see Africa develop through work carried out in conducive offices,” Mr. Schwebig added.
New normal
Also at the same event, AfricaWorks’ Country Managing Director,Josephine Doegah said there is already an indication of gradual receptiveness for the concept of shared, flexible office spaces, and expressed belief that it will continue to be in the ascendancy.
“We are beginning to see many businesses warm-up to the idea of flexible workspaces as they continue to understand the concept and see its benefits… infrastructure and network challenges are being addressed, even something as tiresome as excessive traffic and its impact on staff well-being and productivity is being overcome by our solutions.”
AfricaWorks’ broad footprint has seen it commence operations in the continent’s hottest business destinations – Abidjan, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salam, Lagos, Lusaka and Nairobi.
