In an engrossing interview on JoyPrime's Prime Morning show, the founder of Cocoblack Naturals, Bridget Nana Bonsu, urged aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone with a business idea to prioritize registering and trademarking their business in Ghana.

Speaking with host Asieduwaa Akumia during the 'Women in Business' segment, Nana Bonsu highlighted the significance of these legal protections, sharing her own challenging experience with intellectual property infringement.

Nana Bonsu, whose Cocoblack Naturals has grown to become one of Ghana's leading hair care brands, emphasized that trademark registration provides businesses with a decade-long security window, which can be extended internationally.

"So, a lot of education must go on. If you have a business idea, you should register your company and also trademark your company in Ghana, this will enable you secure a 10-year protection and can also be extended internationally”

The Cocoblack Naturals founder shared that one of the biggest hurdles she faced as a business owner was learning these legal requirements, which she said are seldom discussed in Ghana.

"Unfortunately, the reality is that these things are not taught in our schools or even shared widely in entrepreneurial circles," Nana Bonsu said.

It might be as though many people simply don't know how trademarking works or the value it can add to a brand. This gap in knowledge leaves a lot of businesses vulnerable to exploitation.

She went on to recount a personal challenge that arose early in her career. A resident of the United States had bought Cocoblack Naturals' hair products in bulk from Ghana, only to remix and repackage them under a different label in the U.S.

This unanticipated setback, she explained, exposed her brand to potential loss and misrepresentation in the market, forcing her to confront the reality of intellectual property rights and also advising her customers on the key elements to look out for on the market when purchasing her Cocoblack Natural products.

Nana Bonsu encouraged Ghanaian entrepreneurs to be proactive, advising them to view trademarking not as a mere formality, but as a powerful step to secure their future because, their brand is their identity, and without a trademark, anyone can claim it.