Young millionaire record label owner officially launches new supermarket in Ghana

Apr 1, 2019

Uni-Life
Uni-life, a new modern supermarket has officially opened in Accra, Ghana, having soft launched in September 2018. This is not, in itself unusual. However, the new store is reportedly owned by self made (cedi) billionaire, Nana Wan, a Ghanaian entrepreneur and record label owner. The new supermarket is situated at Rawlings Circle, Madina, northeast of Accra.

Nana Wan is a celebrity in Ghana, and known as Sakawa Boy. A sakawa boy is a local term for an internet fraudster, particularly one who lives an ostentatious, wealth-flaunting lifestyle. Nana Wan’s supposed story is that he grew up an orphan, made his millions and is now a role model for young Ghanaian boys seeking the aspirational get rich quick lifestyle. He owns the record label 2Hype Music and the Wiafe Group of Companies (Ghanaian media has not elaborated on what the Wiafe Group of Companies actually does).

The Uni-Life supermarket is located in P-Cular Heights, a modern mixed use complex in the suburb of Madina, near the University of Professional Studies in what is broadly considered Accra’s university district. Set on two floors, it is a supermarket/department store, with groceries on the ground floor and home furnishings on the first floor. We estimate that it has a total floorspace of around 600m².

Above all, it is interesting because it highlights the role of individual entrepreneurs in developing the modern trade in Ghana. Madina, although a busy residential and commercial area off the Accra-Adenta highway, is not yet a target market for leading supermarket chains. However, the area is increasingly positioning itself as an emerging tech hub and is home to a growing number of small (less than 100m²), mom and pop supermarkets.

Trendtype visited the nearby Shop n Save supermarket, part of a four store chain, in late 2016. That chain closed in late 2018. After its exit, Uni-life is the most upmarket supermarket in its immediate area and to its north (although Citydia’s East Legon branch, to its southeast, is a direct competitor.

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