Abstract/Summary

The Akan are a cluster of ethnic groups in West Africa (Arthur, 2017; Adu Boahen 1966, 1977). They are indigenous entrepreneurs (Ozainne et al, 2014). Akan Indigenous Entrepreneurs (AIE) continues to thrive in Ghana’s modern economy demonstrating sustainability and resilience. What lessons of sustainability and resilience can entrepreneurs learn from AIE? The study identified small to medium sized AIE operating in the modern Ghanaian economy. All participants had an educational level of secondary school or lower. Participants were interviewed concerning their social background, indigenous education, business operations and practices. The study also interviewed Akan indigenous knowledge keepers from the Royal House of Ashanti. Manuscripts of early European researchers were also sourced. The study found themes of sustainability and resilience in both AIE training and operations. Examples include immersive education in family businesses, environmentally friendly pest control, zero debt financial instruments, diversification strategies, product knowledge, flexible labour strategies and community value systems that dismiss competitive advantage. AIE offers alternative approaches that are affordable, stable, flexible, community centered, environmentally friendly, diversified, non-combative, low risk and therefore sustainable, resilient, and agile, even protective against multinational threats and economic instabilities. AIE philosophy offers a balanced approach towards overall efficiency in comparison to the ‘educated’ approach, which is singular, competitive, profit focused, vulnerable to economic instabilities and therefore not sustainable. By implication AIE offers alternate solutions for sustainable and resilient business growth.