Jacob Azilaku, Chief Executive Officer of Milly Jay Hotel and Event Centre, Punikrom in Sefwi Wiawso Municipality, has shared an inspiring account of how he built his hospitality business from a small guest house into a fast-growing hotel facility in the Western North Region.
He explained that although he hails from the Volta Region, he spent much of his early life and education in communities within the Western North enclave.
He began his primary education at Behweme near Sefwi Bonsu Nkwanta, continued at Gyatokrom, and later completed his Junior High School education at Sefwi Anhwiam Anglican JHS.
After his Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), he gained admission to Sefwi Wiawso Senior High School, where he completed his secondary education.
Due to financial challenges, he was unable to continue to tertiary education and instead turned to entrepreneurship.
According to him, he started business life in a modest way before identifying a major gap in the hospitality sector between Sefwi Tanoso and Boako, where accommodation facilities were limited.
“I realized there was no hotel along that stretch, so I decided to invest in the area,” he said.
He disclosed that he initially built a seven-room guest house, which has since expanded into a 53-room hotel facility. The project, which began in 2023, has now developed into one of the growing hospitality businesses in the area.
Currently, the business employs over 50 workers who are paid monthly salaries, making it a significant private employer in the area.
Despite the growth, he noted that the business has faced several challenges, including high interest rates on bank loans used to finance expansion.
He also expressed concern about unstable electricity supply, which he said has caused damage to several electrical appliances and increased operational costs.
“The power fluctuations have really affected my business. We’ve lost a lot of equipment because of it,” he explained.
Mr. Azilaku further emphasized the importance of strict monitoring and supervision in business operations, especially in sales management, warning that poor oversight can lead to financial losses.
He expressed optimism about the future, stating that he has set a 5 to 10-year plan to further expand Milly Jay Hotel and Event Centre into a leading hospitality destination in the region.
