Profile on Winfred Akakpo, CBC bicycle retailer

Posted: 01 Nov 2006

Related to: California Bike Project, Strengthening Bicycle and Rickshaw Industries, Ghana
Contributed by: Bradley Schroeder, ITDP

In the small, single-story town of Hohoe, Ghana, Winfred Akakpo’s bicycle shop stands tall. Even though it is a small, wood-plank shop, it is meticulously taken care of by Winfred and his wife Elizabeth. Winfred Akapo became a member retailer of the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) in January 2004. Previously, he had only sold used, second-hand bicycles.

Photo: Winfred (left) accepts his first check from his first employee purchase program with Tropo Fish Farms.

Despite the California Bike’s higher quality, Winfred was skeptical at first about the prospect of selling it because he thought the price might scare off customers.  In his first year as a California Bike retailer, he sold four new California Bikes – the first new bikes ever sold in his shop.

In his second year as a CBC member, Winfred sold 106 California Bikes, a dramatic increase of over 2,000%.  ITDP helped him develop employee purchase programs, including the development of contracts with the companies and organizations, as well as developing payment plans.  Now, Mr. Akakpo is successfully collecting revenue on a total of 60 bikes to three different organizations.

The Hohoe branch of the UK-based charity, Sight Savers, has purchased ten bikes to facilitate their outreach efforts to improve the eyesight of rural villagers.  Sogasco, a local organization of teachers in the village of Sogokope, has established a payroll deduction program for 11 for their members to help them purchase bicycles to commute to work.  Tropo Farms, a privately-owned fish farm, also established a payroll deduction program for 34 of its employees to help them overcome the scarcity and expense of existing transport options for commuting to work.

With the CBC program, ITDP gives small businesses access to credit and gives purchasers access to more flexible payment programs.  ITDP also works with the local retailers to conduct larger-volume sales in a way that mitigates risk.  Winfred now has access to new bicycles in increments that he can afford, as well as the tools to develop and conduct his own employee purchase programs.  This allows people to purchase bicycles by paying in increments that they can afford. 

When he first joined the CBC, he did not believe that the California Bikes would sell.  Now, not only does he see the value and worth in stocking new bicycles, the California Bikes now constitute most of his sales.  He is extremely grateful for the support that ITDP is giving him to strengthen and diversify his business, and he is optimistic about building a stronger future for him and his family.