Entrepreneurship & Organization Management

Transnational Entrepreneurship and Ghanaians Abroad: What are the Motives?

Abstract

Elvis Asiedu and Patrick Dede Nyarkoh

Business Creation is something that does not come into being on its own; but it emerges from people who see a need for service or product in a society, with that desire to be self-employed and rise above, and use that opportunity. These individuals are dedicated people who are willing to absorb all their time, passion, and money in the work they have created to ensure business growth and success. Though these entrepreneurs operate in a condition where costs may be known but rewards are uncertain, yet they are motivated and the question here is; what really drives the performance to engage in such entrepreneurial activities? The general results show that though individuals motives for seeking self-employment are diverse and numerous; and differ on certain points. However, there are some basic motives common to all and that is majority of the respondents with the average score of 63.3% supported that Economic Mobility, Financial Independence, Success Perspective, and Social Factor, are the most driven factors for the engagement in transnational entrepreneurship. It was also discovered that the success of these entrepreneurs are based on attitudinal, the degree of embededdness in the home country, personal and the institutional regulations of the destination countries. The results found that Ghana Transnational Entrepreneurs are more into Merchandising Business with (59.21%) as compared to Service Business (34.21%) and Manufacturing Business (10.53%). The results also disclosed that, in Ghana, transnational entrepreneurs businesses are managed and run mostly by their families (59.21%). Ashanti Region of Ghana was spotted to be more involved in doing business with 52.63%. The research employed both deductive and exploratory approach and the methods were both primary and secondary. The study focused on small-scale entrepreneurs who run their businesses through personal social connections. The research is subjected to the bias of the respondents, therefore, 100% accuracy cannot be guaranteed.