Mena Ekua Annan Adupong, CEO of Meannan Foods, is a shining example of entrepreneurship in Ghana. Her company, based in Afienya, Mateheko, Melcom area, produces a wide range of locally made food products, including eggs, beans, agushi, Tom Brown, and various spices.
In a recent interview with DJ Nyaami on Business Link, Mena shared her journey from aspiring accountant to successful food entrepreneur.
“I moved from Swedru to Tema for my national service and tried selling various items. I was also pursuing ACCA to become a chartered accountant and wanted to raise money for fashion school. My schedule was tight, but I always loved homemade food,” she recalled.
Her entrepreneurial spark began when she noticed poor food packaging in Tema. With encouragement from a South African mentor, she realized she could turn her passion into a business.
“He told me if I really wanted to do this, I could become a millionaire. He advised me to register a business and open a bank account, and I did the very next day,” Mena said.
In 2005, she officially started her business. Initially, she sold second-hand clothing while working towards her accounting career. She gradually transitioned into food processing, starting with agushi and beans, packaging them for local stores. Her mother’s advice led her to expand into egg packaging, which became her breakthrough product.
“At one point, I had 14 workers and was selling 15,000 crates a week. In one month, that could reach 60,000 crates,” Mena said.
Her entrepreneurial journey was not without sacrifices. Mena recalled using her third school fees in pounds to buy more eggs to sell, ensuring her side hustle was sustainable before quitting her job at Chemico, where she had worked for 11 years.
Today, Meannan Foods has grown into a diversified enterprise with 32 packaged products, including eggs, agushi, pepper, Tom Brown, beans, and a variety of spices and condiments such as ginger garlic kelewele, soya spice, coconut oil, banku, fufu, kokonte, and gari. All products are locally made and processed under strict quality standards. The company also collaborates with farmers through the Prampram District Agriculture Sector, ensuring sustainable sourcing.
Mena also reflected on the challenges of managing a team.
“Most youth are lazy to work, and sometimes they leave or mishandle products. But despite the challenges, I believe there is money to be made in Ghana,” she said.
From humble beginnings to becoming a leader in food processing, Mena Ekua Annan Adupong’s story is a testament to hard work, resilience, and the rewards of turning passion into a thriving business.
Watch The Video Below;
About The Author
