I challenged the belief that construction is for men – Nana Yaa Serwaa Opoku Addo

&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Nana Yaa Serwaa Opoku Addo&comma; Chief Executive Officer of Domain Builders Ghana Ltd&comma; is challenging traditional perceptions about women’s participation in Ghana’s construction industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">With a background in Human Resource Management from Pentecost University&comma; Opoku Addo entered the construction sector without extensive technical knowledge but was determined to establish herself and make a meaningful impact&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Her journey into the industry began with the retail of building materials&comma; particularly finishing products&period; Over time&comma; she expanded her operations from selling construction materials to taking on house construction projects&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">According to Opoku Addo&comma; her decision to venture into construction was partly driven by her desire to challenge the long-standing perception that the industry is primarily meant for men&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">She faced several challenges in the early stages of her entrepreneurial journey&comma; including limited access to capital&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Construction requires significant financial investment&comma; making funding one of the major hurdles for emerging businesses in the sector&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Before establishing her hardware shop at Oyarifa&comma; Opoku Addo had operated an online business selling makeup and sunglasses&period; She saved money from that venture and used the proceeds to establish her first hardware shop&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">She subsequently adopted a strategy of reinvesting profits into the business&comma; which enabled her to gradually expand her operations and move deeper into the construction industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Another major challenge&comma; she noted&comma; was convincing prospective clients that being a woman would not affect her ability to successfully execute construction projects&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Through consistency&comma; strong work ethics and perseverance&comma; Opoku Addo says she gradually earned the confidence of clients and strengthened her reputation in the industry&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">She identifies consistency as one of the most influential factors behind her entrepreneurial progress&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">For aspiring entrepreneurs&comma; Opoku Addo encourages them to remain humble&comma; continuously acquire knowledge and be willing to ask questions&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">She also advises entrepreneurs to trust the process&comma; remain committed to their goals and combine hard work with prayer&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Her journey highlights the growing role of women in Ghana’s construction and real estate sectors&comma; while demonstrating how determination&comma; reinvestment and consistency can help entrepreneurs overcome financial and societal barriers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph"><&sol;p>&NewLine;