Laptop Bags - Putting it all together

Yesterday I went to see Kwabena in Madina to talk to him about the prototype design. I also met his associate whose name I didn't catch but who was introduced as his consultant - he wrote down notes as we discussed the design of the bag. Kwabena was totally happy to make a bag to my complete specification and would ensure it was made as quickly as possible so we would have time for adjustments - then we could go ahead and make 12 samples.

I got to know Kwabena much better this visit. Turns out that as well as running the workshop he also runs his own NGO. The small workshop where the bags (and other products like quilts) are made was given to him rent-free by the government. In return he offers free training to people they send him. He also donates some of the workshop's earnings to fund small projects in schools involving computer and Internet training. He employs anywhere between six and fifteen workers depending on the number of orders he has.

When you talk to Kwabena he tends to get distracted easily which can be quite disconcerting until you realize that he is listening to every word you say. He has a way about him that seems a little uneasy but you soon discover that the root of his uneasiness is his desire to make things happen. Despite being keen to get business to fund his poor and run down workshop he is still able to talk passionately about what he sees as Ghana's problems and how they can be solved.


Left: Production Manager. Right: Completed tote bags. Bottom: View inside workshop

Kwabena has strong views on the African 'problem' - shoddy workmanship, lax attitudes and the willingness to accept charitable hand-outs from rich countries. He feels that Ghanaians have to stand up for themselves and compete in the world on an equal basis and only then will they be taken seriously. I have to say that his views are similar to my own and I told him so.

I mentioned that we eventually wanted to produce the laptop bags at our centre in Elmina when it is built and he was happy with that, saying that we could send the women to his workshop for training. In the meantime he would be willing to produce the bags for us. I have a good feeling about working with him.


Left to right: Kwabena's associate, Kwabena and a young trainee from Benin

Meanwhile his roof is in a poor state of repair and he tells me that if it isn't fixed before the rainy season starts in a month then he will have serious problems. Then he talks about finding enough money to buy some new sewing machines. The discussion turns to comparing the virtues and prices of the Juki against the Singer models - the Singer being more expensive but you can see his eyes light up at the thought of having one of those in his workshop.

But first - the roof. He is banking on bringing in enough business to tackle that; as always, here in Ghana it is a very precarious and hand-to-mouth existence.