SECONDHAND TELEVISION BUSINESS IN GHANA

The demand for secondhand products is on the rise in Africa and Ghana is not an exception. Most people prefer these products because of the ecological and economic reasons. Secondhand products such as clothes, cars, electronics etc. are imported into the country daily.

For the purpose of this article I would like us to look at secondhand television business in Ghana. According to Guoit and Roux (2010) due to the recent economic crisis and thus the drop in purchasing power, the middle -class are becoming more involved in the secondhand market. However, there are people in the upper class who patronize these products. One of the major areas noted for selling secondhand televisions in Accra is Darkuman, Nyamekye. Aside the fact that Nyamekye is a hub for these products most traders prefer the location due to the short duration available for shop rental mostly between 3 months to a year The televisions come in different types that is from hunch back to flat screen TVs. Importers of secondhand TVs usually have their clientele base, mostly wholesalers and retailers of secondhand TVs. The importers mostly pre inform their customers a week or two before arrival of their containers at the port. Usually importers of secondhand TVs add other home used electronic equipment such as kettles, blenders microwaves etc. as part of their consignment. When it comes to secondhand television there are two types of traders. There are dealers who only take stocks of hunch back TVs and in turn sell to their clients in the inter lands and to clients in the other regional capitals.

There is a huge market for the hunch back TVs since most customers especially those in the regional capitals buy them and place them in their shops to entertain their clients. Those in the villages also purchase this type of TV because its less expensive as compared to the flat screen TVs. However, to operate this device you need to purchase a decoder. Demand for the flat screen is very high in the cities and currently almost every household in Accra can boost of one. One of the major risks associated with this kind of business is the screen of TVs which are usually broken either due to mishandling or poor arrangement in the container.Some also buy televisions with broken screens at lesser prices and they get other tv screen repairers to fix it. There are dealers who only import tv screen and these come in boxes of palette from India and Korea by air to Ghana.

As a young entrepreneur interested in this business its important to conduct a research and because of the high demand everyone can access the online secondhand market. You should also have a business plan and it would be important to contact someone in similar business to understand the market .I personally recommend this business to start ups since patronage is high because the goods are less expensive .Prices however differ due to its durability and how products looks (usually brand). However like most businesses secondhand television business has its own risk especially with hikes in foreign exchange since goods are imported, high charges at the ports and the facts that goods do not have warranty which deters some people from buying.