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Anthony Dzamefe eyes global recognition with Caveman watches
Anthony Dzamefe
From venturing into a business accidentally, Anthony Dzamefe has created the first African watch brand, Caveman and is set to compete on the global market.
Dzamefe in the last five years has carved a niche with his brand to compete with the best in the space.
In 2018, from a small shop at Adjiringanor in Accra, he nurtured and researched about the dream for nearly three years after which the maiden brand of Blue Caveman watches hit the market.
Five years later, Ghanaians have become familiar with watches.
But how did it all start?
In 2015, young Dzamefe, without any knowledge about watches, resigned from a hotel job and ventured into business.
He sold suits and petty items to make a living; but that did not last. With frustration setting in, he walked into a shop to get a watch with just GHȻ50 in hand but the watch was priced at GHȻ150, to his surprise.
Dzamefe walked away and decided to search online where he found a watch which he bought at GHȻ50 and posted on social media. Surprisingly, it attracted a buyer.
That birthed the idea to go into selling watches on the streets and university campuses in Accra to make a living.
The ambitious Dzamefe wanted more so he added to his portfolio the art of repairing the watches, making leather straps, breaking watches apart and essentially reverse engineering in order to come out with something since there was no African watch brand on the market amidst millions of watches sold across the continent.
After satisfying his curiosity on watches and creating a unique idea to promote his brand, the first product, the iconic Blue Volta model of about 50 pieces were produced under the Caveman brand.
The first 50 pieces took about two to three months to sell and Dzamefe restocked to produce more.
Dzamefe managed to demystify the idea that watches from Africa were inferior by conducting a survey to understand people’s preference for watches in order to sell faster.
He was intentional about going the extra mile to guarantee quality to make a statement on the market because “no one should regret ever buying my brand of watches; my buyers must rather become ambassadors.”
The plan was to run the business in five-year batches. Following a great first season in Ghana, Dzamefe is stepping into phase two, predominantly entering the global space (Dubai, UK,USA, Nigeria and other African and European countries).
The global approach demanded a showroom of international standards hence the recent opening of the grand showroom at East Legon.
Now, Dzamefe considers the brand ready for the competition in the global space, following the great work done on his products.
The brand had a few complications in terms of designs and lately implemented native elements into its designs to poke the sentiments of Africans and beyond.
It was, however, not without challenges as his mother did not accept the fact that his brilliant son who studied science at the Senior High School and could also become a banker had devoted his time to making watches.
There were also financial challenges as well as the challenge of working with people.
Aside producing watches, Dzamefe can also draw, write poems, play basketball, golf and piano among others.
With his talent, he is able to design his own watches, create commercials, write scripts for adverts, take photos and write a book.
Dzamefe started basic school from Mawuli Primary and went to St. Paul’s in 2007, all in the Volta Region. In 2009, he went to the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) where he did Business Management and later studied Business Administration.
He recently finished a Stone Setting course in Switzerland to enhance his production.
He has won several Awards including Emy Awards, Brand of the Year, Future of Ghana Award, 30 Under 30 Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, Product of the Year and also got recognised by the Office of the President for excellence in innovation.
By Michael D. Abayateye
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
