Community empowerment, technology, and access through peer to peer systems : blockchain concept and case study in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

A joint collaboration by Ayna Verella and Nneka Sobers, this thesis will explore the development of our start-up, ALL PPL. ALL PPL's aim is to develop a Peer-to- Peer (P2P) decentralized risk exchange platform that leverages blockchain technology to facilitate access to capital through local exchange and community empowerment. Capitalizing on how people informally lend each other resources and money, ALL PPL automates a trust network catered to increasing access to capital for underbanked users through two options; small crowdsourced loans and jobs through community projects. As part of our joint thesis, we have created and collected a shared database of quantitative and qualitative data for our initial market study in Accra, Ghana. Focused on marginalized communities as our targeted pilot group, we were interested in the community of Ayawaso East. Socially and economically excluded from the rest of Metropolitan Accra, Ghana, the municipality of Ayawaso East has become increasingly vulnerable. As access to mobile money increases and the quality of life decreases, residents are finding alternative resources to improve their communities. Inspired by the passion of Ayawaso East's residents, ALL PPL has developed a unique product and business model to help the residents of Ayawaso East and similar communities across the world.