Business without boundaries - The Africa Edition Part 1

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In this week's issue we are taking you across the Atlantic to the coast of West Africa, to The Gambia, a relatively small country we first visited in 2017 and now years later we have returned to reconnect and see what's changed in the Motherland. The Gambia, borders Senegal on both sides and is the smallest country by populous in West Africa with a population of approximately 2.8million people which is large considering its size. 

Some of The Gambia’s most famous landmarks is Kunte Kinte island, synonymous with the slave trade and was the trading and transit locality for slaves to be bought and sold and was made famous in the best selling novel ‘Roots’. Today, The Gambia has a healthy agricultural industry that relies heavily on the harvest and export of nuts, typically peanuts and cashews.

Tourism has never been more relied upon for Gambians, and accounts for 20% of the country’s GDP with visitors from all over the globe, namely Scandinavia, Europe and more recently the US and the Caribbean. The rise in popularity has seen a huge spike thanks to social media, YouTubers and Influencers visiting the smiling coast. 

In recent years, the Caribbean and African diaspora living in both the UK and US are steadily returning to the motherland in their droves as they escape the rat race and increasing discord facing Black people living in the West. Some are choosing The Gambia as their destination of choice as they relocate for the sun, sea, fresh produce, friendly people, simple slow life and also the prospect of creating a more sustainable life through the obvious business benefits for entrepreneurs brave enough to take on the challenge of doing business in Africa.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting The Gambia and meeting with one such ferociously brave individual, Aba, a Mother, Wife, Grandmother and Property Entrepreneur from Bromley, South-East London who relocated to the Gambia in 2020 full-time with her husband Ola, their two grown up children and two grandchildren. While seated on the cosy chairs in the spacious foyer of her beautifully designed contemporary apartments, we met Aba and her grandson, 4 year old grandson Micah and asked a few questions about the journey so far.

How long have you been doing business in Africa? 

Aba, originally born in Sierra Leone, came to the UK at the age of 15 and began to carve out a life for herself.  Aba recalls not being overly impressed with London where the streets were said to be paved with gold, but nonetheless, she settled in well. At the height of her career Aba was employed at the Home Office in Croydon where she worked in the Asylum Seekers department for over 10 years. Aba, later studied a Postgraduate in Social Work and went on to become a Social Worker at Greenwich Council for three years before relocating to The Gambia permanently in 2020.

What inspired you to become a property entrepreneur?

It was a collective and not too far-fetched decision to move to Africa, as Aba and her husband already had links on the continent and frequently travelled between FreeTown in Sierra Leone and The Gambia. They first set down roots and built a family home in the affluent area of Brufut, a popular neighbourhood for expats, made home to government officials and well to do Gambians. 

The transatlantic lifestyle was fine for a short time, however they soon realised after two years that the property was underused with visits being no more than for a few months of the year. Aba and her husband then made the difficult decision to sell their home in what was a thriving property market. Upon selling, they put all their efforts into a new project in 2020 with the complexity of lock-down and began the challenge of building a 20 unit luxury apartment complex in Serrekunda. In 2021, the vision became a reality and Mica Apartments was born. Mica Apartments is thoughtfully named after Aba’s grandson Micah who is almost four years old and is part of the inspiration and driving force behind creating sustainable wealth through real estate for future generations.

What has the Gambia experience been like so far?

Visiting the country as a tourist is different to living here full time, partying, socialising, and venturing out of the is a thing of the past - that all stops. Now, a typical day is contractors in and out, managing staff and all that comes with running a business. It's a young business, it comes with more responsibility, which can also be very tiring and demanding. This new life as a Property Entrepreneur and Proprietor means Aba often meets like-minded and interesting people from all over the world.

What challenges have you experienced since doing business in Africa?

The challenge is building the right team, people with the desire to learn and deliver a high standard of customer service on par with the UK, to that quality. Though English is widely spoken there is a language barrier which is a challenge. Also, Peak Season is between October and April, tourism is high at this point and tails off from December to May just before the dreaded rainy season.

What would you change or improve about doing business here?

More training for communities, particularly in the area of management and customer service and hospitality. There are plenty of opportunities to upskill local people, increasing their chances of obtaining local jobs contributing to the local economy. Consequently, the downside is local people could lose out to foreign workers who are likely to come with experience and a more favourable attitude to work. 

What is your aspiration for your venture?

Aba’s eyes are set on the mighty Nigeria, where she is seeking to pursue a new business venture in the hospitality industry, which has seen a 12% increase in the sector between 2019 and 2023 as reported by Price Waterhouse Coopers. As the empire continues to seek further roots in Nigeria, Mica Apartments will continue to run as a family business for the foreseeable future. 

What advice would you give to anybody wanting to do business in Africa?

The Gambia is still a virgin country, there is an abundance of opportunities and huge potential for anyone considering starting a business here. There is also a lack of exporting from The Gambia to the rest of the world, most of The Gambia imports goods from overseas, which is problematic and means these goods come with a premium price tag. The country is blessed with an abundance of fruits and vegetables that could be harvested more efficiently and exported, but the machinery and experience to achieve such a feat is not there.

If you are considering running a business in The Gambia, firstly, Aba advises to visit multiple times and rent for long periods before committing fully - undertake a trial run. Patience and determination will also be a prerequisite for undertaking any business in The Gambia.

How can people find you?

Aba is available at www.micaapartments.com. Watch this space as we follow Aba’s progress over the next 12 months. 

We'd like to thank Aba wholeheartedly for her time and hospitality and we hope that after hearing Abba's inspirational story, others may explore the possibilities beyond boundaries either in Africa or elsewhere. If you are interested in doing business in Africa, contact the British Chamber of Commerce, at: www.britishchambers.org.uk