The Executive Chairman of COB-A Group of Companies Ltd, Divine Otoo Agorhom, has challenged academic institutions, particularly the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), to undertake deliberate research into why many indigenous Ghanaian businesses fail within five years of establishment.
Delivering an address at the official launch of the company’s 30th anniversary
celebration in Accra, dubbed “Standard Water at 30,” Mr Agorhom said it was critical for research bodies to investigate the factors that undermine the sustainability of local enterprises and propose practical solutions to reverse the trend.
“In Ghana, and across much of Africa, many indigenous organisations do not survive beyond five years. This should be of great interest to research institutions,” he stated, adding that understanding both the failures and successes of local firms would help nurture resilient Ghanaian-owned businesses.
The anniversary event, held at the Fiesta Royal Hotel, celebrated three decades of operations of Standard Water, a flagship product of the COB-A Group. It brought together board members, management,
partners and members of the media.
Mr Agorhom noted that while foreign businesses often thrive in Ghana, local companies frequently struggle to sustain growth, stressing the need for deliberate national efforts to build and support indigenous enterprises.
“If we had even 1,000 Ghanaian-owned organisations employing over 1,000 people each, the economic impact would be enormous, with profits retained within the country,” he said. He called for collaborative efforts between academia and industry to document best practices from companies that have survived beyond the critical early years.
Reflecting on COB-A’s journey, Mr Agorhom recounted major challenges, including a damaging misinformation campaign in 2009 and the poaching of over 250 staff by a competitor. Despite
these setbacks, he attributed the company’s resilience to strong values, faith and staff loyalty.
“We went through very difficult moments, but by the grace of God and the commitment of our staff, we have come this far,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, the Registrar, Lorraine Buerki Gyan, commended COB-A for its consistency, innovation and commitment to human resource development.
She described the company’s growth as a testament to vision, discipline and integrity, noting that its continuous investment in staff education and partnership with academia had positioned it as a model organisation.
“COB-A’s story demonstrates that
Ghanaian companies can innovate and compete at the highest level when driven by purpose and strong values,” she said.
Mrs Gyan further highlighted the company’s adoption of advanced water purification technologies and its reputation for maintaining high-quality standards, adding that its investment in employee welfare and training had transformed many entry-level workers into professionals and leaders.
The anniversary launch also served as a platform to reaffirm the importance of industry-academia collaboration, with speakers urging institutions like UPSA to deepen research partnerships that support business growth and national development.
As COB-A marks its 30-year milestone, stakeholders expressed optimism that its
legacy of resilience, innovation and people-centred growth would inspire a new generation of Ghanaian enterprises to thrive beyond the often-cited five-year survival barrier.
By Kingsley Asiedu
