Crowdfunding for a greener Ghana | Global Ideas

Summary

Sylvester Aisi of crowdfunding platform Frankly Green visits a Ghanaian company, Goodroll, aiming to produce eco-friendly bamboo toilet paper. Despite construction delays, Goodroll plans to employ 200 people and support regional farmers in bamboo cultivation. Frankly Green, focused on sustainability and climate protection, seeks to bridge the financing gap for green projects, with Translight Solar successfully raising funds for solar panel leasing. The platform welcomes private investment, from small to large amounts, to support sustainable ventures.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Sylvester Aisi is visiting companies on behalf of the crowdfunding platform 'Frankly Green', which focuses on sustainable projects.
• 🌳 A company named 'Goodroll' is seeking investment through Frankly Green to produce eco-friendly toilet paper made from bamboo.
• 🏗️ The factory for Goodroll is still under construction, with challenges such as weather and generator issues causing delays.
• 💰 Frankly Green's funds are intended to augment the company's working capital, with the expectation that the factory is ready to produce.
• 🌱 Goodroll plans to employ 200 people and work with regional farmers to produce bamboo, a fast-growing and sustainable resource.
• 🌿 The bamboo used will be unbleached, maintaining its natural purity, and Ghana has a large area of bamboo that can be utilized.
• 🌱 Goodroll is providing seedlings to farmers to grow more bamboo, which they will later buy back for production.
• 🌊 Goodroll's wastewater will be treated in their own plant and partly reused, aligning with Frankly Green's sustainability focus.
• 📈 Frankly Green is a new platform aiming to grow within Ghana and internationally, addressing a financing gap for green businesses.
• 🌞 Another company, 'Translight Solar', has successfully raised funds through Frankly Green, offering solar panel leasing to combat energy crises and promote green energy.
• 💼 The international climate initiative has funded the development of Frankly Green, which is open to private investment ranging from small to significant amounts.

Q & A

What is Sylvester Aisi's role in the story?

Sylvester Aisi is an individual associated with the crowdfunding platform Frankly Green, who visits companies seeking investment through the platform.

What is the purpose of Frankly Green's visit to the toilet paper company?

The purpose of the visit is to observe the progress of the company's factory construction and to see if it is ready for production, which is a prerequisite for receiving funds raised through Frankly Green's platform.

What challenges has the toilet paper company faced during construction?

The company has faced challenges such as weather conditions, generator issues, and workers falling sick, which have delayed the construction of the factory.

What is the significance of using bamboo for the toilet paper production?

Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows quickly, which helps protect Ghana's woodlands from deforestation and is part of the company's sustainable production plan.

How does the bamboo supply chain work in this scenario?

The company provides seedlings to local farmers, who then grow the bamboo. The company later buys back the bamboo from the farmers for use in their toilet paper production.

What is the expected employment impact of the toilet paper company's operations?

If all goes well, the company hopes to employ 200 people, including regional farmers who will produce the bamboo for the toilet paper.

What measures are in place to ensure the sustainability of the production process?

The company plans to treat all wastewater in its own wastewater treatment plant and partly reuse it, which is a prerequisite to receive financing via Frankly Green.

Who developed the Frankly Green platform and what is its central focus?

The platform was developed by Tobias Ponofin, with sustainability and climate protection as its central focus.

What is the current status of Frankly Green in terms of listed companies for investment?

Frankly Green is a few months old and currently has only one firm listed for investment, but it aims to grow both within Ghana and beyond.

How does the Translight Solar company utilize Frankly Green's platform?

Translight Solar leases solar panels to companies and private households that otherwise could not afford them, promoting green energy use and helping to solve the energy crisis in Africa.

What is the International Climate Initiative's role in the development of Frankly Green?

The International Climate Initiative funded the development of Frankly Green, supporting its mission to provide alternative financing for green projects.