Konnected Minds Podcast

Episode Summary: “He Left Canada to Build a Factory in Ghana… Then It Caught Fire (Twice)”

Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Guest: Fred Ampedu, Founder of Postar Industries

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, host Derrick Abaitey sits down with Fred Ampedu, a Ghanaian-Canadian scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of Postar Industries. Fred details his daring move from a successful career in Canada back to Ghana to build a manufacturing enterprise—an enterprise that endured two devastating fires, theft, and the perennial challenges of entrepreneurship. Their conversation delves deeply into legacy, family values, the importance of ownership, entrepreneurship, Africa’s education and development gap, and hard-won lessons on resilience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fred’s Background: Roots and Family Legacy

• Legacy of Ownership: Fred describes coming from a lineage that values tangible ownership and entrepreneurship. His grandmother, “a stuck illiterate,” founded the largest market in West Africa (Tema Station), showing that success doesn’t require formal education alone.

  • “At some point in time you have to own something and pass it on to the next generation. That’s the reason why. Ownership. Simple answer.” — Fred (02:27)

• Early Money Lessons: Money became familiar early in his life. Family dinners revolved around business discussions, teaching the next generation practical money and business management.

2. Education Abroad & Western Exposure

• Learning from the West: Fred shares that the biggest benefit of studying in Canada was not just the education, but the global network and understanding that came from living in a different culture.

  • “The network was invaluable...I have friends from all over the world.” — Fred (11:05)

• Why Africans Don’t Return: Fred explains the challenge of return migration, attributing it to human nature: “People take the path of least resistance.”

  • “But for some weird reason, our people like the path of least resistance...But most people are not built to withstand these challenges.” — Fred (13:47)

3. The Drive to Return and Build

• Inspired by Afro-Optimism: Fred cites his father’s optimism about Africa and research into African history as major motivators for returning to Ghana and applying his scientific knowledge locally.
  • “My dad...believes in the promise of Africa. He said, ‘There’s no place greater than Africa.’ Like, ‘Fred, this thing you know how to make...bring this business or know-how to Ghana.’” — Fred (18:06)

4. Entrepreneurial Challenges: Factory Fires and Losses

• First Fire:

  • The day after raw materials arrived, Fred’s factory caught fire with no electricity supply, destroying ~$50,000 in equipment (20:44).
  • “I was in the washroom crying...My wife came in, saw me cry...She said, ‘Did anybody die?’ ‘No.’ ‘It's unfortunate. We lost almost $50,000 worth of equipment.’” — Fred (20:44)

• Theft:

  • The caretaker who helped during the fire later stole goods worth nearly 500,000 cedis (~$40,000 USD).
  • “I hired him to be the caretaker...Eventually stole almost 500,000 cedis worth of goods.” — Fred (21:44)

• Second Fire:

  • Another fire broke out in January 2025. Fred personally fought the flames and took corrective technical measures to prevent recurrence (23:47).

5. Resilience & Mindset

• Why Not Give Up?

  • Fred credits his family legacy and upbringing for his refusal to quit, even after such adversity.
  • “Once again, it’s part of the legacy that I was born into...My dad...still working. My grandmom passed at 103.” — Fred (25:49)

• Entrepreneurship is Nurtured:

  • Fred insists that entrepreneurs are made through nurturing, not simply born or manufactured.
  • “Entrepreneurs are nurtured. They are not made or born, they are nurtured. So because of the upbringing and me seeing that's all they did...subconsciously, you’ve seen them doing it, you know the pain...but also the reward if you get it right.” — Fred (27:20)

6. Building Capital & Strategic Planning

• Starting Capital:

  • Postar Industries required a cumulative investment of ~$500,000 over 10 years, much of it from Fred’s own work, family, and partner contributions (28:52).

• Leveraging Real Estate Abroad:

  • Fred used real estate investment in Canada to build wealth for his venture and advises others abroad to do the same, not getting emotionally attached to houses as assets (29:36).

• Insurance Matters:

  • Fred emphasizes the importance of insurance in Ghana, recounting how payouts supported him after the fires (31:37).

7. On Wealth, Fulfillment, and the Role of Entrepreneurship

• Money as a Problem Solver:
  • “Any problem in this world that money can solve is not a problem. Go get money, solves the problem.” — Fred (32:10)
• Entrepreneurship as Fulfillment:
  • “Entrepreneurship runs the world. The global economy is entrepreneurship.” — Fred (32:50)
• Reality of Difficulty:
  • “Everything is hard. Nothing in this world is easy...you have to master accepting that everything is hard and failure comes with it.” — Fred (33:26)

8. Advice for Aspiring and Returning Entrepreneurs

• Networking is Vital:
  • Approach people directly, listen, and absorb as much wisdom from experienced professionals as possible (34:12).
• Story: Solving Real Industry Problems:
  • Fred’s humility led to $2.6 million in sales in a single year by listening and quietly improving a product where others had struggled (35:23).

9. Africa’s Struggle: Science, Engineering & Structural Issues

• Underproduction of Engineers:
  • Fred passionately outlines how a lack of scientific and engineering expertise is stalling Africa’s development (36:56).
  • “If you don’t produce as many engineers and scientists as possible, we always lag behind.” — Fred (37:58)
• Practical Example:
  • Ghana’s “red earth” (iron oxide) holds untapped potential, but value isn’t realized due to a lack of technical application (37:59).
• Focus on Value Addition:
  • Raw materials will never be as valuable as finished goods—Africa needs to move up the value chain (43:33).

10. Solving Unemployment: Innovation at Home

• Fred advocates for grassroots engineering solutions: helping local distillers refine alcohol or improving fish smoking, rather than defaulting to government jobs or migrating (39:30).

11. On Brain Drain & Staying Local

• Why Many Stay Abroad:
  • Often, it’s about perceived comfort rather than long-term reward (47:28).
• The Importance of African History:
  • Engineering and science education should be grounded in African perspectives to encourage loyalty and a sense of duty to home communities (46:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family Legacy and Ownership:

  • “Ownership. Derek. Simple answer.” — Fred (02:27)

• On Loss and Resilience:

  • “I was in the washroom crying... My wife came in, saw me cry in the washroom. She said, ‘Did anybody die or anything?’ No... We lost almost $50,000 worth of equipment.” — Fred (20:44)

• On Failure:

  • “You have to master accepting that everything is hard and failure comes with it.” — Fred (33:26)

• On the Role of Entrepreneurship:

  • “Entrepreneurship is the path. Fulfillment.” — Fred (32:50)

• On Engineers and Value-Addition:

  • “If you don’t produce as many engineers and scientists as possible, we always lag behind.” — Fred (37:58)
  • “There is no raw material more expensive than finished goods. There’s none.” — Fred (43:35)

• On Motivation versus Discipline:

  • “Discipline.” — Fred (51:41)

• On Fulfillment:

  • “Best time of my life...at one point in my career abroad...award-winning chemist...and I’m saying best time of my life living in Ghana.” — Fred (52:11)

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• [02:27] – Fred explains the core value of “ownership” in his family tradition.
• [10:54] – The importance of Western education and global networking.
• [13:47] – On why the diaspora often don’t return to Africa.
• [18:06] – Roots of Fred’s decision to return: African history and Afro-optimism.
• [20:44] – First factory fire: emotional aftermath, loss, and theft.
• [23:47] – Second factory fire and direct action to save the business.
• [27:20] – Are entrepreneurs born, made, or nurtured?
• [32:10] – “Any problem...that money can solve is not a problem.”
• [36:56] – Why Africa struggles globally: lack of engineers and value addition.
• [43:35] – Importance of manufacturing and value addition.
• [46:41] – Addressing low pay and brain drain: the need for historical perspective.
• [52:11] – Fulfillment found in living and building in Ghana.

Conclusion

This episode stands out as a masterclass in persistence, multi-generational thinking, and strategic entrepreneurship. Fred’s real-life victories and setbacks make for a realistic blueprint for those dreaming of returning home or launching ventures in Africa. The critical takeaways: nurture entrepreneurial spirit, leverage networks and practical skills, add value locally, and adopt both resilience and discipline as guiding principles.