Social Media and Canva Design

About this module

Your phone can be a shop window, a camera, a design studio and a way to earn. It can also be a trap. This course teaches you to use it well and to protect yourself and other people.

Who it is for. Beginners with no formal certificate, including school leavers, women's groups, small traders and persons with disabilities. You need a smartphone, a SIM with data and the habit of reading your screen carefully. National Proficiency I is the first level of Ghana's TVET framework.

Why this course

About 26.3 million people in Ghana were using the internet at the end of 2025, which is 74.6 per cent of the population, and there were about 8.59 million social media user identities.
Advertising audience estimates show Facebook reaches about 8.40 million people and YouTube about 8.59 million, against about 2.30 million for Instagram. These are advertising reach figures, not counts of active users. So for most Ghanaian businesses, start with WhatsApp and Facebook, and add Instagram later if your product is very visual.
Online fraud is rising. The Cyber Security Authority reported 720 online fraud cases in January to March 2026, up 113 per cent on the same period of 2025.
Ghana has training for design and media: CTVET lists Graphic Design Technology and Multimedia Practice, and Takoradi Technical Institute lists Digital Design Technology, though you should confirm with the school. A small pilot trained 20 people with disabilities in flyer design, WhatsApp and TikTok for business.

CTVET status. This module is not a CTVET curriculum. It follows CTVET's format. Menus in WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Canva and CapCut change often. The official help pages of these apps could not be read when this book was written, so the steps come from third-party guides and the usual way these apps work. Every practical step carries one rule: your screen may look a little different; look for the same words.

How this course fits with the Hub's other courses

Basic ICT Skills teaches the phone, files, typing, email, passwords and general safe use of the internet (see Unit 5, Email, the internet and simple online services, and Unit 6, Stay safe online). Do that course first if you are new to smartphones. We do not repeat it here.
Digital Skills and Mobile Money Agent teaches mobile money, MoMo scams and how to use WhatsApp Business as an agent. This course only covers how to get paid by customers and clients, and online payout routes.

How the module works

Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent. About 70% of the time is practical.

Every unit ends with: a practical task, a homework task, a three-question "Check yourself", and (where there are numbers) an exercise with worked answers.

Three rules for the whole course.

Never share a PIN, OTP, password or Ghana Card number.
Ask permission before you photograph, record or post a person.
All prices and amounts in this book marked "example" are made up for practice. Find the real prices yourself.

Unit 1 · Online safety, scams and your rights

Before you post anything for anyone, learn how people lose money and how people get hurt. Then learn the rights of the people in your photos.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
1.1 Spot and report scams	names six common online scams, the warning signs, and where to report
1.2 Protect accounts	sets a strong password and two-step login on one business account
1.3 Respect people's rights	gets and records consent before photographing or posting a person
1.4 Know the main laws	states in plain words what Act 843, Act 1038 and Act 690 mean for a social media worker

Range. Your own phone and accounts; one consent form; one scam report exercise. Evidence. Scam table; consent form; observation of account setup.

Do first: passwords and two-step login

Passwords, strong passwords and general scams are taught in Basic ICT Skills, Unit 6 "Stay safe online". Here we only add what a business page needs.

Lock your accounts

Open Settings of your Gmail account. Find "Security" or "Two-step verification" (your screen may look a little different; look for the same words).
Turn it on, using your phone number for the code.
Do the same for Facebook (Settings, then Security and login, then two-factor authentication) and for WhatsApp (Settings, Account, Two-step verification, then set a six-digit PIN you can remember).
Write the PIN and passwords on paper at home, not in your phone gallery, and never in a screenshot.
Check: log out and log in again. The code must be asked for.

WhatsApp code scam. A message that says "I sent my code to your number by mistake, please send it back" is a trick to steal your WhatsApp account. Never send a code to anyone, even a friend. If a friend's account sends it, call the friend.

Six scams you will meet

Scam	How it works	What to do
Fake payment proof	A buyer shows a "sent" MoMo screenshot or SMS that is not real	Check your own wallet or app, not their screen. Release goods only when the money is in your account.
Overpayment and "send me change"	Someone "pays" too much and asks you to refund or pass money on	Never forward. Wait until the money has truly cleared.
Fake "admin" or "support"	A message pretends to be MoMo, WhatsApp or your bank and asks for your PIN or OTP	Never give a PIN or OTP. Real staff do not ask. Hang up and call the official number.
Pay-to-join "online job"	You must pay first to get work, often on WhatsApp or Telegram	If you pay first, it is a scam. Do not pay. Report it.
Fake page copying your shop	Someone copies your logo and photos and collects money	Screenshot it, ask your customers to report it, report it on the platform, and tell your followers which page is real.
Fake buyer link	A "buyer" sends a link to "receive payment"	Do not click. Never type a PIN or card details into a link.

Pay only after you have received and inspected goods, and never share your Ghana Card number, bank or card details with someone you do not know.

Where to report: the Cyber Security Authority

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has a 24-hour helpline: 292, by call or text.
Reports also name a WhatsApp number, 0501603111, and the email report@csa.gov.gh. The CSA website shows other phone numbers and some links that disagree with each other, so confirm any number on the official site before you print it on a poster. Teach 292 first.
Fraud losses are serious: about GH¢49.5 million was lost to cyber fraud in the first half of 2023.

Scam report drill

Your trainer shows three made-up messages (a fake MoMo "wrong transfer", a fake job asking for GH¢50, a fake "support" asking for an OTP).
For each one, fill in a line: What did they want? What is the warning sign? What should I do? Who do I tell?
Take a screenshot of one made-up message (without any real numbers) and practise writing a report of three lines: what happened, date and time, the account or number used.
Save 292 in your phone as "CSA Report".

Photos, consent and the Data Protection Act

A photo or video where a person can be recognised is personal data. Whoever decides how and why it is taken, kept or shown is a data controller with duties, and processing needs a lawful reason, normally consent. The law is the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). That source is a commentary, not the law itself. People may also object to direct marketing.

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) registers data controllers, and registration is renewed every 2 years. The small-business fee is shown as GH¢120 on one DPC page and GH¢156 on another, so check the DPC fee list before paying. Whether a one-person social media freelancer must register is not verified: ask the Commission.

Simple rules you will follow in this course:

Ask before you photograph or film a customer, a worker, a child or a stranger
For an advert, get written consent (the form below); for a quick event photo, ask aloud and note it
For a child, ask a parent or guardian
Take a photo down if the person asks
Do not post a Ghana Card, a driver's licence, a MoMo screenshot with numbers, or someone's house number
Never share intimate pictures of anyone, and never post a child in nudity or distress

Ghana's Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038) has sections on child online protection (sections 62 to 67) that cover child sexual abuse material, grooming, cyberstalking of a child and sextortion, with penalties of up to 25 years. That is why we never share such images, even "as a joke" or "to warn others".

The consent form

Copy this model into your logbook (it is a teaching model, not legal advice).
Fill it in with a partner: "I, (name), agree that (photographer's name) may take and use photos or video of me for (adverts for the business named). It may be posted on (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram). I may ask for it to be taken down by calling (number). Signed, date. If under 18, parent or guardian signs."
Practise saying it aloud in English and in your own language.
Keep every signed form in an envelope or a photo folder named "Consent".

Music, pictures and copyright

The Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690) protects music, recordings, films, artwork and software, and copying them without permission can be an offence. The details of what is allowed are not verified here. So follow this rule: use pictures and music you own, or that the platform clearly gives for business use, and do not copy other designers' work or logos. Pop songs in paid adverts are a risk. See Units 3 and 4 for the safe sources.

Check your own habits

I use two-step login on my email, Facebook and WhatsApp
I never share a PIN, OTP or code
I check my own wallet before I give goods
I ask before I post a person
I have 292 saved in my phone

Safety talk

Explain to two family members or friends the "code sent by mistake" scam and the "if you pay first, it is a scam" rule. Write down what they said and what questions they asked. Date it in your logbook.

Check yourself

A "customer" says "I sent your money, here is the screenshot." What do you do before giving the goods?
What number do you call or text to report an online scam in Ghana?
Name two things you must do before posting a photo of a customer in an advert.

Unit 2 · Setting up business pages step by step

A good business page is like a clean shop sign: the right name, a clear picture, a phone number that works and a way to find you.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
2.1 Plan a business identity	chooses one name, logo, phone number and location wording for a business
2.2 Set up WhatsApp Business	installs and sets up the app with profile, catalog, greeting and quick replies
2.3 Set up a Facebook Page	creates a Page with a picture, cover, contact details and first posts
2.4 Choose other platforms	explains when to use Instagram, TikTok and Google Business Profile

Range. One real or practice business. Evidence. The finished pages; observation; completed checklist.

First, plan on paper

Use the same name, logo, phone number and location words everywhere (teaching design).

Business name (spelled exactly the same everywhere)
Logo or a simple picture for a profile photo (a square image, with the logo in the middle)
One phone and WhatsApp number that you will keep
Location in words ("Akwidaa, near the junction") and, if you have a shop, a map pin
Opening hours
A price list photo
A reply-time promise ("We reply within one hour from 8 am to 6 pm")

Facebook and WhatsApp reach the most Ghanaians, so do those two first. Add the others only if they suit your business.

WhatsApp Business: the first tool

Tools and materials. A smartphone; a SIM number for the business (best a separate SIM or a number you do not use for personal chats); data or Wi-Fi; a logo image; 5 to 10 product photos; a price list written down.

Set up WhatsApp Business

Open Google Play Store and search "WhatsApp Business" (green icon with a "B"). Install WhatsApp Business, not ordinary WhatsApp Messenger.
Open it, accept the terms, enter the business number and type the SMS code you receive.
Fill in the business profile: logo, business name, category, description, address, opening hours, email, website if any. The name is hard to change later, so spell it right.
Open Business tools (in Settings). Set a Greeting message for new customers and an Away message for when you are closed (customers who message at night otherwise hear nothing).
Make Quick replies: short answers you can call up by typing "/". Start with five: price, location, delivery, payment, opening hours. Example: type "/price" and your price list message appears.
Open Catalog. Add your best 5 to 10 products, each with a photo, name, price and short description. One guide says a catalog can hold up to 500 products, but start small.
Use Labels (colour tags) to sort chats: New customer, Paid, Delivered.
Test: ask a friend to message you. Check that the greeting appears, "/price" works and the catalog opens.

Checks. Does your profile show the same name as your Facebook Page? Is your phone number correct? Is the logo clear on a small screen?

Mistakes and fixes.

Mistake	Fix
Installed ordinary WhatsApp	Uninstall, install WhatsApp Business, and move the chats if you want to
Using your personal number	Better to get a cheap separate SIM so personal chats stay private
Name misspelled	Change before you share the number widely, as it is hard to change later
Added strangers to a broadcast list	Do not. Only send to people who asked to hear from you. One guide says broadcast lists reach only contacts who saved your number and hold up to 256 contacts, but this is not verified, so check on your screen
No away message	Turn it on tonight

A blue tick "verified" badge is only for eligible businesses, through Meta Business, and you do not need it.

Facebook Page (free)

You use a personal Facebook account to create a Page, but the Page does not show your personal profile.

Create a Facebook Page

Log in to your personal Facebook account on your phone or a laptop.
Open the menu, choose Pages, then Create new Page (or go through Meta Business Suite, Settings, Pages).
Type the Page name, choose up to three categories, write a short bio, and tap Create Page.
Add the profile picture (your logo), a cover photo, your phone or WhatsApp number, address, hours, and a "Send message" or WhatsApp button.
Publish three to five posts before you invite anyone. A bare Page looks untrustworthy. Good first posts: who we are, our best products with prices, where we are, how to order.
If you want a helper, give them Page access in Page settings instead of sharing your password. Role names change, so read the words on your screen.
Pin the best post (price list or "how to order") to the top.

Checks. Open your Page in a private window or on a friend's phone. Can they see the picture, the number and the posts? Does the "Message" button work?

Instagram, TikTok and Google Business Profile

Instagram professional account. Profile, Edit profile, "Switch to professional account", choose a category, then Business or Creator. Warning: the account becomes public; switching back removes business tools such as Insights. Use it as a second platform for visual businesses such as hair, fashion, food and events, because Ghana's Instagram reach is small.

TikTok business account. Profile, menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Switch to Business Account, choose a category. It is free and followers and videos stay. Business accounts see only the Commercial Music Library, which is cleared for business use. Sources disagree on how strict this is, so the rule is: use the Commercial Music Library or your own music. Whether TikTok ads and money-making are open in Ghana is not verified.

Google Business Profile puts your shop on Google Search and Maps.

You need a Google account, then you "Add or claim your business" and verify it before editing other details.
It is for storefront businesses and service-area businesses that meet customers face to face. It is not for online-only businesses.
Verification may use a postcard, phone, text, email or video, depending on the business. Whether postcard or phone verification works for informal addresses in Akwidaa is not verified; ask at the Hub before you try.
So: if you have a shop, kiosk, salon or workshop that customers visit, add it. If you sell only from home on WhatsApp, use Facebook and WhatsApp instead.

Pages for one business

Choose one real business (your own, a family shop, or a Hub client with permission).
Fill in the planning checklist above.
Set up WhatsApp Business, with greeting, away message, five quick replies and at least five catalog items.
Create a Facebook Page with logo, cover, contact details and three posts.
Write one line for each of Instagram, TikTok and Google Business Profile: "Yes because..." or "Not now because...".
Show your trainer both pages on your phone. Your trainer plays a customer and messages you.

Look at three pages

Find three business pages near you. For each, write what is good, what is missing (number? price? location?) and one thing you would change. Date it in your logbook.

Check yourself

Why should you use the same name, logo and number on every page?
Which app do you install for a business: WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business?
Who can add a shop to Google Business Profile, and who cannot?

Unit 3 · Taking good photos and short videos

Customers buy what they can see clearly. A clean phone lens, soft light and a plain background beat an expensive camera.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
3.1 Take a clear product photo	cleans the lens, uses window light, a plain background and three angles
3.2 Edit lightly	crops, brightens and saves a photo without spoiling the colours
3.3 Make a short video	films clips, edits and exports a 20-second product video with captions
3.4 Use images legally	uses own pictures and safe music, and saves files neatly

Range. One product, three photos, one 20-second video. Evidence. Photos; video; checklist.

Photography steps

Tools and materials. A phone; a soft clean cloth (a lens cloth or clean cotton); a plain background (a white sheet, plain cloth, poster board or foam board, which are sold in stationery shops in Takoradi; a clean white cement bag also works); a phone stand or tripod; the product, clean and ready.

Take a product photo

Wipe the camera lens with a soft cloth.
Choose window light or shade. Bright but not direct sun is best, roughly 9 am to 3 pm. Never use the flash. Soften harsh sun with a white sheet. In Akwidaa, work under a shaded veranda or by a door, out of direct midday sun (teaching tip).
Put the product on a plain, clean surface. Remove clutter. Choose a background that contrasts with the product.
Turn on the grid in your camera settings and place the product along the lines or where lines cross (the rule of thirds); for very small products, try centring too.
Walk closer. Do not zoom with your fingers, because digital zoom makes grainy photos. Skip portrait mode for products.
Hold the phone steady with elbows in, or rest it on a stand.
Take three angles: wide, close-up, and in use. Use landscape for a Facebook link or YouTube, and vertical 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and WhatsApp Status.
Look at the photos on a bigger screen if you can. Is it sharp? Is the colour true? Delete bad ones at once.

Checks. Is the product in focus (tap it on the screen)? Is anything in the background that should not be there (a person, a bin, a line of washing)? Does the colour match the real thing?

Mistakes and fixes.

Mistake	Fix
Blurry photo	Wipe the lens; hold still; tap to focus; use a stand
Too dark or full of shadows	Move closer to the window or shade, away from the back light
Yellow or blue colour	Turn off the flash and move to daylight
Cluttered background	Use a plain cloth or board
Grainy photo	Walk closer instead of zooming
Customers say "not what I saw"	Do not over-filter food or fabric colours. Photograph fish, produce, hair and cloth in daylight for true colour (teaching tip)

Light edits

Edit lightly in the phone gallery or a free app: crop, brightness, a little contrast. Then name the file clearly ("smoked-fish-1kg-wide.jpg") and keep photos in folders by product. Back them up on Google Photos or Google Drive over Wi-Fi.

Short videos with a free app

CapCut is a free video editor. It can trim, split, join, add text and transitions, and add auto-captions, which are free for videos up to 10 minutes according to one source. The free plan usually exports at 1080p. Sources disagree on watermarks: some say only templates and effects marked Pro add one, others say some templates add an ending clip you can delete. The rule: use plain tools, avoid anything marked Pro, delete any ending clip, check the preview before you post. The commercial-use terms for CapCut's free music and effects are not verified, so for client work use your own music, your own voice, or no music.

A 20-second product video

Film 5 to 8 clips of 2 to 4 seconds each: the whole product, a close-up, a hand using it, the place, the owner smiling (with permission). Hold the phone upright (9:16) and steady.
Open CapCut and start a new project. Select the clips in the order you want.
Trim each clip so it starts and ends cleanly.
Add text: product name, price, location, WhatsApp number. Keep letters big and in a plain, easy-to-read style.
Turn on auto-captions and fix any wrong words by hand.
Add no music, or use your own or a library tune that is marked safe for business. Do not use pop songs from the radio.
Export at 1080p. Check the file size; big files cost data to upload.
Watch the video once with the sound off. Can you still understand it? Then send it to your trainer.

Data tip (example). One guide says a typical average of 1 GB costs about GH¢6.30 a month in Ghana, with the cheapest about GH¢1.08 and the dearest about GH¢16.77. If one video is 30 MB (an example size), it is about 0.03 GB, so upload cost is about 0.03 x 6.30 = GH¢0.19 at that average. Ten videos cost about GH¢1.89. Edit offline and upload on Wi-Fi at the Hub where you can. Bundle prices change: the Government directed MTN and other networks to raise the value of bundles by 15 per cent from 1 July 2025, which gives more data rather than cutting prices. Today's MTN prices are not verified: check the MyMTN app or your network's menu.

Data cost (all figures are examples)

Your phone uploads 12 photos of 2 MB each and 3 videos of 40 MB each. At GH¢6.30 per GB (use 1 GB = 1,000 MB), what does it cost to upload them all?

Three photos of one product

Photograph one product from a neighbour or family member (with permission) in three angles. Show the best to two people. Ask: "Would you buy it?" Write down what they said and what you would improve.

Check yourself

Why do you wipe the phone lens first?
Why should you not use the flash for product photos?
What can you use for music in a business video?

Unit 4 · Canva basics: flyer, price list, logo and social post

Canva gives you templates, fonts and pictures for free. Your job is to choose, simplify and make it easy to read on a small phone.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
4.1 Set up Canva	signs up, finds a free template and sets the right size
4.2 Apply design rules	uses two fonts, three colours, big prices and clear contact details
4.3 Make four designs	makes a price list, flyer, simple logo and social post
4.4 Export and respect the licence	downloads in the right format and follows the licence rules

Range. One real or practice business, four designs. Evidence. The four finished designs; checklist; oral questions.

Know the licence rules first (summary only)

Canva's free photos, music and video can be used for business and non-business uses at no cost, with no need to credit Canva.
Some "free" elements come from other free libraries and follow those libraries' licences, and Canva gives no guarantee for items showing people or brand marks. For high-exposure work such as packaging or book covers, use premium elements.
You may not sell a Canva photo alone (for example on a T-shirt), resell Canva content, or claim it as your own.
Items marked as Pro are watermarked on the free plan.
Audio marked "personal use only" is not for business posts.
A logo built from Canva elements: whether it can be registered as a trademark is not verified. Use your own shapes and text, and ask the Registrar before you try to protect it.
The current Canva licence text could not be read here. Read it on canva.com/policies before you charge a client.

Design rules that always help

One idea per design
Two fonts at most; three colours at most
The headline and the price are the biggest things
Strong contrast: dark letters on a light background, or the reverse
Space around the text; do not fill every corner
Contact number and location at the bottom
Check on a small phone screen and zoom out to see if you can still read it
Do not put all the information only in a picture: also write it in the caption (see Unit 7)

Set up Canva

Start Canva

Install the Canva app, or open canva.com on a laptop. Sign up free with your email or Google account. A phone works, but a laptop at the Hub is better for long designs.
In the search box, type the design you want ("Poster", "Flyer", "Logo", "Instagram post", "Facebook post", "Menu"). For a price list, choose an A4 document or flyer.
Pick a template that has no crown icon (a crown means a paid item).
Click each word, type your own text. Replace pictures by tapping Uploads and uploading your own photos.
Write down your colour codes (hex codes) on paper so you can match them next time. Whether Canva's Brand Kit is free is not verified.

Check that your font shows Twi letters ɛ and ɔ properly if you write Twi words. Canva support for these letters is not verified: type "ɛ ɔ" in a text box and look (open item).

Design 1: a price list

Materials. Your product names and prices written in a notebook; a template; a logo or business name; phone number.

Make a price list (A4)

Create a new design, A4 document, and pick a plain free template with a table or list.
Type the business name at the top, big. Under it, one short line ("Fresh smoked fish, Akwidaa").
List each product with its price on the same line. Use the same units each time (per kg, per piece). Write only prices you have really set. Examples in this book are made up.
Make the prices the clearest part (larger or bolder than the product names).
At the bottom, put your WhatsApp number, location in words and opening hours.
Zoom out to phone size and check. Can you read the prices?
Download: Share, Download, choose PDF Print for printing, or PNG or JPG for WhatsApp and posts. Which formats the free plan offers (such as PDF Print and transparent PNG) is not verified: look at your screen.
Send the picture to a friend's phone and read it there.

Design 2: a flyer or poster

Print sizes (Canva offers these as presets). A4 flyer 210 x 297 mm; A3 poster 297 x 420 mm; square social post 1080 x 1080 px; story, reel and TikTok 1080 x 1920 px. These are common standard sizes (not verified against an official source here).

Make a flyer (A4)

New design, choose Flyer or Poster, A4.
Pick a free template. Delete anything you do not need.
Write a headline of three to six words that tells the offer ("Fresh Smoked Fish: Order Today").
Add one good photo of your own. Crop it neatly.
Add three lines: what, price, how to order. Put the phone number at the bottom, large.
Choose two fonts and three colours. Check the colours are readable together.
Save the file with a clear name ("flyer-smoked-fish-oct.pdf").
Print one copy and hold it at arm's length. Can you read the headline and number? If not, make them bigger.

Design 3: a simple logo

A logo is a small picture or name that identifies a business. Keep it simple, so it still reads small.

Make a logo

New design, choose Logo, square.
Use your own business name in a clear font. Add one simple shape or your own drawing. Avoid copying a famous brand.
Use at most two colours. Check it in black and white too.
Download as PNG. A transparent background is usually a paid feature (not verified), so if it is not on offer, use a plain white or coloured background that matches.
Test it as a small profile picture on WhatsApp or Facebook. Is it clear in a small circle?

Design 4: a social post

Make a social post

New design, Facebook post or Instagram post (square 1080 x 1080 px).
Use your own photo, a short line, and the price. Keep only one idea.
Add your logo small in a corner.
Download as PNG or JPG.
To make another size (a story), start a new design in the other size and copy your parts across. Magic Resize is a paid feature, so on the free plan make the new size by hand. If you resize inside the same design, you can undo it with Version history.

Checks. One idea only? Prices easy to find? Phone number at the bottom? Spelling checked by another person? No copied logos?

Mistakes and fixes.

Mistake	Fix
Too many fonts and colours	Use two fonts and three colours
Small text	Make headline and price bigger; zoom out to check
Low contrast	Dark on light, or light on dark; not red on green
Used a crown (Pro) item	A watermark appears. Replace it with a free item or your own
Used a pop song	Remove it. Use safe music or none
Wrong spelling or price	Ask another person to read it before you post

Price a flyer (all figures are examples)

You will charge a local shop for one flyer. It takes you 2 hours. You decide your time is worth GH¢15 an hour. The design needs GH¢4 of data. Printing is paid by the shop. What is your price using the cost method (hours x hourly target + data)? What is the price if the shop wants 3 changes that add 1 more hour?

Three quotes

Visit or call three print shops or designers (in Akwidaa, Takoradi or Tarkwa). Ask what they charge to design and print one A4 flyer. Write the names, dates and prices. One local listing only says "contact for price", which is why you ask.

Check yourself

How many fonts and colours should one design use at most?
What does a crown icon in Canva mean?
Can you sell a Canva stock photo on its own on a T-shirt?

Unit 5 · Captions, posting, customers and complaints

A good photo gets a look. A clear caption and a kind answer get the sale.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
5.1 Write a caption	writes a caption with a hook, value, price, location, how to order and a few hashtags
5.2 Plan and post	plans a week of posts and posts at sensible times
5.3 Answer customers	replies politely, confirms an order, and uses simple Twi where known
5.4 Handle a complaint	uses the LAST-HEAR steps to hear, apologise and fix
5.5 Read results	records reach, messages and orders each week

Range. One week of posts for one business; two practice complaints. Evidence. Content plan; captions; role-play; weekly record.

Caption formula

Hook (one line that makes a person stop).
Value (one or two lines: what it is, why it is good).
Price or offer.
Location and delivery.
How to order (WhatsApp number).
Call to action ("Message us today").
Three to five hashtags (a common teaching figure; there is no verified best number).

Example (made up). "Akwaaba! Fresh smoked fish from Akwidaa. 1 kg pack, GH¢(price). We deliver in Akwidaa and Takoradi. Order on WhatsApp: (number). #Akwidaa #Takoradi #WesternRegion #Ghana"

Hashtags. No Ghana-specific hashtag research was found. Use your product word, your place (#Akwidaa #Takoradi #WesternRegion #Ghana) and one hashtag you make yourself for your shop. Never use hashtags that have nothing to do with your post.

English, Twi and Fante

Write in English for wide reach and add one short Twi or Fante line for warmth. These Twi words come from a Twi learning site:

Twi	Meaning
Akwaaba	Welcome (use it to welcome people; do not use it as the reply to "medaase")
Medaase or meda wo ase	Thank you
Mepa wo kyɛw	Please
Wo ho te sɛn? or Ɛte sɛn?	How are you?
Maaha	Good afternoon
Maadwo	Good evening
Nante yiye	Goodbye, go well
Yɛbɛhyia bio	We will meet again

Fante. This source is mostly Asante and Akuapem Twi. Fante words differ in places, and no verified Fante list was found. Before you post Fante, ask a Fante speaker at the Hub to check your words. Your trainer's and your community's Fante is the authority, not this book.

Voice notes. For a customer who finds reading hard, send a short voice note as well as text.

Plan a week of posts

A simple teaching method (not a statistic): three posts a week to start. A common rhythm is Monday product, Wednesday tip, Friday customer proof (with permission), Saturday offer. A usual rule of thumb is about four useful posts for every one selling post; where it comes from is not verified, so treat it as a guide.

Best time to post. Global studies often point to Tuesday to Thursday, about 9 am to 12 noon, with strong evenings on TikTok, but the sources disagree, they sell tools, and no Ghana study was found. Ghana runs on GMT. So start with 8 to 10 am and 6 to 8 pm, then look at your own results and keep the best times.

Plan and post for a week

In your notebook, draw a table with Monday to Saturday.
Write 3 post ideas (for example: a product photo, a "how to order" post, a customer thank-you with permission).
Take all the photos in one session (Unit 3). Write all the captions in one sitting.
Post at 8 to 10 am or 6 to 8 pm. Tick each post when it is done.
Share the post to your WhatsApp Status and, for a Page, send it to your WhatsApp groups only if people there want it (no spam).
Reply to every comment and message the same day.

Answer customers

Greet first ("Akwaaba! How can I help?")
Reply within an hour in working hours, and use the Away message when you are closed
Confirm an order in one message: product, quantity, price, delivery place, payment way
Take payment with MoMo (see Digital Skills and Mobile Money Agent) and check your own wallet before you release goods
Screenshot the order and payment for your records, but never post it
Thank the customer

Confirm message example (made up). "Thank you! Order: 2 kg smoked fish, GH¢(total). Delivery to (place) tomorrow by 2 pm. Please pay on MoMo to (name and number) and send your name so we can check."

Handle a complaint: LAST-HEAR

This is a teaching method; the acronym is a common customer-service idea whose origin is not verified.

Listen. Read the whole message. Do not argue.
Apologise. "I am sorry this happened."
Say what you will do. Ask what fix they want, then offer a fix.
Thank them for telling you.
Follow up after the fix.
Keep it private: move from the public comment to a private chat. Keep the proof (screenshots, photos).

Two role plays

In pairs, one is the customer, one is the owner. Customer complaint 1: "The fish was not the size you showed me." Customer complaint 2: "My order is late and nobody answers."
The owner uses LAST-HEAR out loud, with a Twi greeting.
Switch roles. Your partner scores you: Did you listen? Apologise? Offer a fix? Move it private?
Write the final answer message for each.

Read your results each week

Look at the numbers your apps show: reach (people who saw), engagement (likes, comments, shares), messages, link or WhatsApp clicks, followers gained and best posting times. Instagram professional accounts and Facebook Pages show insights in the app. Record in a notebook: date, post, reach, messages, orders. The real measure is sales and orders, not likes.

Plan the month (examples)

A shop wants 3 posts a week for 4 weeks. How many posts is that? Using the rule of thumb of 4 useful posts to 1 selling post, about how many of each? Last week the shop's posts brought 18 messages and 6 orders. What fraction of messages became orders, and as a percentage?

One week for a real business

With the owner's permission, post three times for a real small business near you. Record reach, messages and orders for each post. Write one sentence: "What I will do differently next week."

Check yourself

Name the first line of the caption formula and the last piece.
Where do the Twi words in this book come from, and what must you do before using Fante?
In LAST-HEAR, where should you move a complaint?

Unit 6 · Earning online safely

The honest ways to earn online are slow at first. The dishonest ones are fast and they take your money. Learn the difference before you start.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
6.1 Name the ways to earn	lists local and online ways to earn with social media and design skills
6.2 Help a local shop	sets out a simple monthly package for one shop
6.3 Judge online platforms	explains fees, payout routes and risks, and says what is not verified
6.4 Spot work scams	names the red flags of fake clients and fake jobs, and what to do
6.5 Run a small boost	plans a small paid boost with a budget in GH¢

Range. One local shop; one platform profile plan; one scam checklist. Evidence. Package sheet; scam checklist; oral questions.

Your first clients are close to home

The most realistic first clients are local: guesthouses and beach resorts, fish smokers and traders, farm produce sellers, salons, churches, schools and the Hub itself (teaching view). Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups for local clients are a good place to be seen. Demand numbers for Akwidaa are not verified.

Ways to earn (see Unit 7 for more):

Run a shop's WhatsApp Business catalogue and Facebook Page (three posts a week)
Design flyers, posters, menus and price lists in Canva
Take photos and short videos for events, with consent and a deposit
Type, write captions or edit subtitles for others
Online freelancing on websites (slow to start)
Micro-tasks online (very small pay; practice only)

A simple package for a local shop

Write down exactly what the shop gets each month, so there are no arguments. Example (made up): 12 posts, WhatsApp catalogue kept up to date, two flyers, one weekly report of messages and orders. Collect a deposit first (an example is half), and keep the owner as the owner of the page: you are a helper with Page access, not the owner (see Unit 2).

Write a package sheet

Choose a real shop (or a practice one).
Ask: What do you want more of (orders, calls, visits)? What do you sell? What are your prices and hours? May I photograph you and the products? (Write the answers down.)
Write the monthly package in six lines: what you will do, how many posts, how many designs, when you report, price, deposit.
Add one line: "The shop owns the page. I will give back all access if we stop."
Read it aloud to a partner who plays the owner. Does it sound fair and clear?

Online platforms: honest facts and what is not verified

The official pages of the platforms below could not be read when this was written. Everything here is from third-party summaries. Read the platform's own page before you sign up, and check whether Ghana is supported.

Platform	What is reported	Not verified
Upwork	Freelancer fee reported as variable, from 0 to 15 per cent per contract, locked when you start the contract. Withdrawals through Payoneer or direct bank or wire, with fees and minimums that vary	Current official fee; Ghana rules; the Raenest guide is from a company that sells a competing account
Fiverr	Payouts for Ghana reported by bank transfer, Payoneer or Payoneer card, with clearing times, and only one Payoneer method at a time, with a 24-hour wait after changes. PayPal is called impractical in Ghana	Fiverr's fee; fee figures in guides conflict
Freelancer.com	Ghanaian designers list asking rates such as USD 12 and USD 15 an hour. These are asking prices, not earnings	Real earnings
Micro-task sites	Reported minimum payouts such as EUR 5, USD 9 or USD 20 depending on the site, and very small pay per task	Which of them accept Ghana; the blogs earn money from referrals
Local routes	Jobberman Ghana lists social media jobs. Freelancers in Accra have profiles on Hubstaff Talent and Contra	Whether jobs suit beginners

Teaching line: micro-tasks pay very little. Treat them as practice, never as a main income.

A national programme, GROW (Generation and Mastercard Foundation), has trained Ghanaians for remote and online work; whether it is still running is not verified.

Getting paid from foreign clients

Local customers: use MoMo (see Digital Skills and Mobile Money Agent).
PayPal: several third-party guides say Ghanaian accounts can send but not receive, and that people abroad can send to Ghana through a service called Xoom. The current rule is not verified. Some people open an account under another country's name; that breaks the rules and risks losing the account, so do not do it.
Payoneer: its page says fees and limits can change, depend on the plan, and are shown before you confirm; your bank account must be in your own name and match your Payoneer details, or a withdrawal may be refused or reversed. One cost site shows a same-currency withdrawal to a local bank at USD 1.50 (not Ghana-specific), and another says currency conversion can cost up to 3 per cent. Ghana fees and cedi limits are not verified.
Rates move. On 5 October 2026 the interbank rate was about GH¢11.70 to buy and GH¢11.72 to sell one US dollar, and forex bureaux gave about 11.90 and 12.25. The cedi fell 7.9 per cent against the dollar in the first half of 2026. So always check the rate on the day.

From dollars to cedis (all figures are examples)

A foreign client pays you USD 50 for a flyer. The platform takes a fee of 10 per cent (an example; Upwork's reported fee varies from 0 to 15 per cent). Then you withdraw through Payoneer, which charges USD 1.50 (an example). At GH¢11.70 per USD, how many cedis do you get? What is that in cedis per hour if the job took 3 hours?

Spot work scams (red flags)

Learn these red flags:

A "client" overpays and asks you to send back the extra money or pass it to another person
Pressure to act before the payment clears
A request to leave the platform and chat or pay somewhere else
Payment in crypto or gift cards
Fees to "start", "register" or "unlock" a job, or unpaid "test" work
A cheque or payment first and then a request that you send part back
Refusing a phone or video call; a poor or missing contract

What to do.

Stop. Do not send money or personal details.
Search the company name plus "scam".
Keep all talking and payment inside the platform so you have help if there is a dispute.
Wait until money has truly cleared before you do anything with it.
Screenshot the messages. Report to the platform and to the CSA on 292.

Rule for WhatsApp or Telegram "online jobs": if you pay first, it is a scam.

Run a small boost (paid advert)

Facebook and Instagram let you pay to show a post to more people. One guide says the minimum boost is about USD 1 a day (about USD 2 over two days), but no official cedi minimum was found. Global average cost per click is about USD 0.50 to 2.00, not Ghana-specific. Which Ghana payment methods Meta accepts (MoMo or local cards) is not verified: look at Payment settings, and never share card details with anyone who offers to "run ads for you".

Example (calculated). USD 1 a day for 7 days at the 5 October 2026 sell rate of GH¢11.72 is 7 x 11.72 = GH¢82.04. The dollar rate changes daily: read the budget on the boost screen.

Plan a boost (do not pay in class)

Choose a post that already works (people liked it or asked questions).
Choose the goal: messages on WhatsApp, or visits to the page.
Choose the audience: your area (Western Region, Takoradi and a small radius), age and interests. Do not target the whole country if you only deliver locally.
Choose the budget and days. Write the total in cedis from the screen.
Write the results to check after 24 hours: reach, messages, orders.
Never promise a customer sales from a boost.

Scam spotting

Ask your family or friends whether they or someone they know has met an online job, MoMo or "wrong transfer" scam. Write down what happened, the red flags, and what the person did (do not write names). Compare with the list above.

Check yourself

A client sends you more money than agreed and asks you to send the extra to someone else. What do you do?
Why is a micro-task site not a good main income?
What must be true about your bank account name when you withdraw from Payoneer?

Unit 7 · Location, business ideas, your portfolio and accessibility

A small online business needs a place to work, a clear offer, proof that you can do it, and a design that everyone can use.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
7.1 Choose a place to work	judges a workplace for power, network, shade and safety
7.2 Choose an idea and price it	picks a business idea and works out a price from costs
7.3 Market yourself	builds a portfolio and a one-page price list
7.4 Make content accessible	adds alt text, captions and readable design
7.5 Plan roles for all	names tasks that suit people with different disabilities and what adjustments help

Range. The trainee's own plan. Evidence. Portfolio; price sheet; accessibility checklist; one-page plan.

Location: where will you work?

A shaded, safe place with a table, a seat and a socket
A phone signal you can rely on, or the Hub's Wi-Fi
Power for charging (a power bank helps when the lights go off)
Quiet enough for voice notes and calls
Close to your clients, so you can visit and photograph
A secure place to keep your phone and laptop

Mobile data is your biggest running cost. Keep a note of what you spend each month.

Seven business ideas

Social media helper for local shops: WhatsApp catalogue, Facebook Page, three posts a week.
Flyer, poster, menu and price-list designer in Canva.
Photo and video for events: church programmes, funerals, weddings, outdoorings, graduations, always with consent and a deposit.
Product photos for fish smokers, farmers and bakers at the Hub.
Printing and WhatsApp-status adverts (design, then print at a shop).
Captions and subtitles for deaf-friendly videos.
Online freelancing and micro-work, slowly, with the safety rules of Unit 6.

(Teaching list; demand numbers are not verified.)

What do people earn and charge?

No Ghana price list for social media management, flyers, logos or event photography in cedis was found. These are the only points found:

A company in Accra advertised a social media manager job at GH¢25,000 to 35,000 a year, an employee salary (undated listing). That is 25,000 / 12 = about GH¢2,083 and 35,000 / 12 = about GH¢2,917 a month (calculated). This is a salary, not what a beginner freelancer earns.
Freelancer profiles show asking rates of USD 5 to 10 an hour. At GH¢11.72 per USD (calculated example): USD 5 is GH¢58.60 and USD 10 is GH¢117.20. These are asking prices, not earnings.
One global guide says logo design runs from under USD 55 to over USD 125, and another lists USD 200 to 2,500. These are not Ghana prices and they vary widely.

So build your own price (cost method): hours x your hourly target + data + materials. Then ask three local people what they charge and what customers will pay.

Price a monthly package (all figures are examples)

You will look after 4 shops. Each needs 8 hours of your work a month. Your hourly target is GH¢15. Data costs you GH¢40 a month for all four shops. (a) What is the total cost? (b) What price per shop covers cost only? (c) If you charge GH¢150 per shop, what is your income, and what do you earn per hour after data?

Market yourself: portfolio and one-page price list

A portfolio is a small set of your best work that shows a client what you can do.

Build your portfolio

Choose six samples: two flyers or price lists, two photo sets, one short video, one social post set. Make them for real people (with permission) or practice businesses (say "practice design").
Show a before and after for at least one (a bad photo and a good one; a messy flyer and a clean one).
Put them in one place: a Facebook Page or album, a Google Drive folder with a share link, or a Canva link. Check the link opens on another phone.
Ask each happy client for a short testimonial, in writing, with permission to use their name and photo (see consent in Unit 1).
Write a one-page price list for your own services (Canva A4). Include examples of what is included and how many changes are allowed.
Set up WhatsApp Business for yourself, with a catalog of your services.
Print ten small business cards (name, services, number) if you can afford it.

Accessibility for readers and workers

Make your posts accessible.

Alt text describes a picture for people who use a screen reader. On Instagram, when you make a post, go to the caption screen, Advanced settings, Accessibility, Write alt text; for a posted photo, use the three-dot menu, Edit, Edit alt text. Each picture in a multi-picture post needs its own text. Keep it to one or two clear sentences describing what is shown, not a copy of the caption. On Facebook, with a screen reader, use Edit on the photo, then Alternative text, then Custom alt text. The platforms can create automatic alt text, but your own is better.
Captions on videos help deaf and hard-of-hearing people and anyone watching without sound. Use auto-captions in CapCut and correct them. Also write the key information (price, place, number) in the caption text.
Design: strong contrast, big enough letters for a phone, do not use colour alone to give meaning, avoid long all-capital text.
Do not make offers by voice only. Always give a written number or message option.

Example alt text (made up). "Two women packing smoked fish into baskets under a shaded veranda in Akwidaa."

Make one post accessible

Take one of your posts from Unit 5.
Write alt text for the photo in one or two sentences.
Check that the price, place and number are in the caption as text.
Check the design contrast: view it on a phone in sunlight or turn the brightness up. Can you still read it?
For a video, turn on captions and read them through for mistakes.

Tasks and roles for persons with disabilities (teaching suggestions; ask each person what suits them).

Task	May suit	Adjustments that help
Home-based designing, editing and posting	Wheelchair users and others who work best seated	A stable table at the right height, a charged laptop, a power bank
Caption editing, scripts and online work	Deaf learners	Written instructions, WhatsApp text, captions on every video, no voice-only tasks
Admin, scheduling, caption editing, answering messages	Screen-reader users	Phone voice typing and a screen reader (see Basic ICT Skills); clear page names and alt text; test Canva with a screen reader first, because its accessibility is not verified here
Photography and filming at events	People who can stand or sit with a tripod	A stand or tripod for steadiness; a helper to carry gear
Customer replies	People with speech difficulty	Typed replies, voice notes only if they want, quick replies

A small project in Ghana trained 20 people with disabilities in flyer design, WhatsApp and TikTok for business. Ghana's Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) protects persons with disabilities; see Basic ICT Skills for its source list. Never assume what a person can or cannot do; ask.

A one-page plan

One-page business plan

Write the name and the idea you chose (from the seven).
Write where you will work and what it costs each month (data, charging).
Write your price list for two services, using the cost method.
Write your first three clients you will ask, and how.
Write how you will keep yourself safe (Unit 1) and how you will get paid (Unit 6).
Write your first week of posts for your own page (Unit 5).
Present it to your trainer in two minutes.

Registration and tax

This beginner manual does not teach business registration or tax. Ghana registration facts and fees are covered in the Hub's Level 3 books; ask your trainer. Do not register or pay anyone before you have read the official page.

Talk to a local owner

Ask a shop or guesthouse owner in your area what is hardest about getting customers online. Write down two answers. Draft one offer you could make them.

Check yourself

What is a portfolio for?
Give two ways to make a video easier for a deaf person to follow.
Why is the salary of GH¢25,000 to 35,000 a year not a good guide for a beginner freelancer's pay?

Glossary

Term	Meaning
Alt text	A short written description of a picture for people who cannot see it
Away message	An automatic WhatsApp Business reply when you are closed
Boost	Paying to show a post to more people
Caption	The text under a post, or the words shown on a video
Catalog	A list of products with photos and prices inside WhatsApp Business
Consent	A person's clear permission, ideally written
CSA	Cyber Security Authority; call or text 292
Data controller	A person or business that decides how personal data is used
Engagement	Likes, comments and shares
Hashtag	A word with # in front that helps people find a post
Insights	The numbers an app shows about your posts and visitors
OTP	A one-time code that you must never share
Portfolio	A small set of your best work
Quick reply	A saved short answer you can call up by typing "/"
Reach	How many people saw a post
Template	A ready-made design you change
Watermark	A mark on a design that shows a paid item was used without paying

Logbook

Unit 1: scam table; consent form; two-step login check
Unit 2: planning checklist; WhatsApp Business and Facebook Page screenshots (no private details)
Unit 3: three product photos; the 20-second video; data cost
Unit 4: price list, flyer, logo and social post; three quotes
Unit 5: week of captions; role-play notes; weekly results
Unit 6: package sheet; scam checklist; boost plan
Unit 7: portfolio link; price list; accessibility checklist; one-page plan
Every homework, dated

Self-check quiz

What number do you call or text to report online fraud in Ghana?
Someone sends a screenshot saying they paid. What do you check before you give goods?
What should you get before you photograph a customer for an advert?
Which app do you install for a business: WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business?
Name three things to put on a business page so customers can find and trust you.
Why is the flash not good for product photos?
How many fonts and colours should one design use at most?
Can you sell a Canva stock photo alone on a T-shirt?
Write the caption formula in six parts.
What is the first step when a customer complains?
Why are micro-tasks not a good main income?
Name two ways to make a post accessible.