A Conversation Inside Anaafo: The Co-Working Space Built from Scratch, Soul and Sweat

Hidden in a quiet corner of Labone, Accra, a new kind of space is quietly taking shape. It’s called Anaafo,  a co-working hub, a restaurant, a haven, built not just with bricks but with stories, compromise, and intention. In this candid conversation, the co-founders and team walk us through the journey of creating this one-of-a-kind space. What follows is a layered, reflective look into what makes Anaafo more than just a place to work.

Q: Let’s begin at the beginning. How did the idea for Anaafo come about?

A: [Founder 1] It started with a phone call. A friend of mine had found a space and was thinking of turning it into an Airbnb or maybe just a personal office. But I told him, “Why not go for something bigger? Something shared, like a co-working space.” That one suggestion snowballed.

A: [Founder 2] And from there, we got excited. The ideas kept growing. First a co-working space, then a restaurant, maybe even an Airbnb up front. We had to scale it down eventually. But the core, creating a welcoming, functional space, never changed.

Q: What kind of feeling did you want the space to have?

A: [Founder 2] Homely. Calming. You walk in and just feel like you can exhale. I wanted couches. He [gestures to Founder 1] wanted desks, stiff, office chairs. But I won that one. (laughs) Now he’s the one sitting on the couch.

A: [Founder 1] The goal was always balance. Somewhere people could work, but not feel boxed in. Somewhere that felt alive, not sterile. So we brought in reused furniture, some from my own house. Art pieces from emerging talents, mixed with some from more established names.

Q: Was there an overall design inspiration?

A: [Founder 2] At first, I wanted it to resemble traditional mud houses, the ones you have to recoat with clay after the rains. I was obsessed with that texture, the rawness of it. But the ceilings here are low, so we worried it would feel dark. We had to pivot. Lighter colours. Brighter tones. But the clay idea still lives in some of the textures and finishes.

Q: How did you divide the space? What’s the physical setup like?

A: [Founder 1] Downstairs is the co-working area. Upstairs is the restaurant, The Rumson. It’s named after a street I lived on in Atlanta. I loved it so much I wanted to bring some of that energy here.

A: [Founder 2] And I named the co-working part “Anaafo,” which in Fante refers to “the south” or “the base.” It felt right. A place where people can begin from.

Q: What type of community were you trying to build? Who is Anaafo for?

A: [Founder 2] People who want to work. People who want to connect. Founders, creatives, anyone trying to build something meaningful. We wanted a space where, if you know, you know.

A: [Founder 1] Exactly. It’s not about mass publicity. I don’t want unnecessary attention. I want the right kind of attention. Not everyone needs to know about Anaafo. But the people who need it, they’ll find it.

Q: So there’s a difference in your marketing philosophies?

A: [Founder 1] Completely. He wants it to grow organically. Word-of-mouth. No big splash. I’m more structured. I believe even if you don’t want aggressive marketing, you still need a strategy. Soft social media. Show people what the experience is like.

A: [Founder 2] Yeah, we meet in the middle. Show, don’t shout. Let the space speak for itself.

Q: Tell us about the kind of people who use Anaafo. Any interesting tenants?

A: We’ve had a few. There’s Target, a food delivery app from Nigeria, they use one of our offices. Rapper Health, which focuses on women’s wellness, is also here. We’ve had real estate firms, freelancers, even someone who uses the space to play and lose at gambling.

Q: What would you say is the cultural or social contribution of Anapho to the Labone area?

A: [Founder 1] There’s not much like this around here. There used to be Nagorno Coffee Shop, which had a similar vibe, but it’s shifted. So Anaafo is filling a very real gap. It’s intimate, intentional, not another loud space in the city.

A: [Founder 2] We’ve built what we call “a hole in the wall” spot, hidden, yes, but alive. Labone’s growing fast, but this? This feels like a calm in the middle of the growth.

Q: How do you manage the team? You spoke earlier about a “family” approach.

A: [Founder 2] We don’t just hire people. We build relationships. When we’re interviewing, we let current team members sit in. One time, we couldn’t reach a staff member for over a week. We literally organized a mini search party, drove to Labadi with his photo. Turns out he was unwell and had moved to Teshie. His family eventually called to tell us. That’s how seriously we take it.

A: [Founder 1] We celebrate birthdays. We eat together, from the same plate sometimes. It’s small, but it creates unity. People stay late, not because they have to, but because they want to.

Q: What are the core values that guide your team?

A: Trust. We want people to feel like they can leave their laptop and find it exactly where they left it.

A: Low ego. Everyone’s equal here, security to manager. Everyone is relevant. Everyone contributes. It’s not about hierarchy.

A: And finally, identity. People need to feel like they belong. Like they’re part of something bigger.

Q: Any unique green practices or sustainability initiatives?

A: We reuse a lot. About 70% of our furniture is repurposed. We also recycle our water bottles, turn them into planters. Those go on tables, or become little gifts when people leave.

Q: What about challenges? What’s been the hardest part?

A: Infrastructure. We planned for solar panels, backup batteries. But power has been inconsistent, which limits how far we can stretch. Also, staffing, finding the right kind of people in Ghana’s work culture isn’t easy. A lot of folks don’t align with the long-term vision.

Q: So what’s next for Anaafo?

A: We’re hoping to build a startup residency program. A space where founders can pitch to investors and get real funding. It’s part of a larger dream to expand, different Anaafo spaces across the country. Same values, different vibes.

Q: Any final reflections?

A: This whole thing, Anaafo, The Rumson, it’s been built from scratch. Literally from a couch from my house. We’ve given our time, our money, even our blood. One guy actually got hit in the head carrying a cactus. That’s how real it gets.

A: But it’s worth it. Because what we’re building isn’t just a business. It’s a living, breathing space. One that people remember, and return to.

Q: And now that it’s all in motion—what does Anapho mean to you today?

A: It’s not just a space. It’s the silence between emails. The couch where someone finally figures out their pitch. The wall someone signs and leaves a piece of themselves behind. It’s the late nights with soup in the kitchen. It’s walking in and knowing, you don’t have to explain yourself here. You’re understood.

A: People come in thinking they need Wi-Fi and leave, realising they needed stillness. Or conversation. Or just somewhere that doesn’t ask them to perform.

And so maybe that’s the story of Anaafo.

Because in a city spinning louder by the minute,
someone needed to whisper: “Come. Sit. Stay as long as you need.”

About the Founders

Mr. Kwabena Oppon is a strategic entrepreneur whose practical leadership drives the daily heartbeat of Anaafo Space and The Rumson Restaurant. His focus on operations, sustainability, and growth helps create environments where ideas thrive and experiences matter.

Mr. Kwabena Mbroh is a passionate innovator and founder of Blavior, a platform reshaping real estate discovery in Ghana. As a co-founder of Anaafo Space and The Rumson Restaurant, he brings vision and creativity to building spaces, both digital and physical, that empower communities to grow.

Together, their shared commitment has shaped Anaafo Space into a welcoming hub where professionals, creators, and entrepreneurs find more than just a workspace, they find a place to belong.

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