BTA2023 Audrey Forson, CEO of Tekura Designs, Mildred Akotia, CEO of Akwaaba Foods, and Longue Sylvester Abdul Razak of Sly Farms were named Young Innovators of the Year at the Ghana Grows AgroFusion festival for their achievements in agriculture, agribusiness, and A-TVET.
Each received a citation, plaque, and GH¢15,000 money as their prize. They will also take an all-expenses-paid trip to Kenya to meet other agribusiness owners and discuss best practices and potential collaborations.
Edna Frimpong, the Shoemakergurl; Edna Vorsah of Herb Garden; Emmanuel Twene of QET Organic Farms Limited; Martha Opoku of Deahenkan Foods Limited; Munkaila Mohammed of DolcaFresh Fruit Juice; Nikki Okrah of Chaku Foods; and Elselund Ewudzie Sampson of Big Samps Market were among the other award winners honored on the night. A special award was granted to KEAD, a project created by Aburi Girls Robotics Club students.
The awards were presented in Koforidua during the recently concluded Ghana Grows AgroFusion Festival, a platform designed to recognize, celebrate, and project the efforts of young innovators in the Agribusiness and Agriculture Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) sectors, with a particular emphasis on young women and people with disabilities.
Rica Rwigamba, Country Director for Mastercard Foundation in Ghana, delivered a keynote talk at the event, emphasizing the Ghana Grows Programme’s aim on developing young entrepreneurs and connecting them with important industry participants in the agriculture and ATVET sectors.
She encouraged attendees to network with industry experts and look for ways to grow their businesses. “I celebrate the role of young people in transforming the agriculture sector, highlighting their innovations featured in the Ghana Grows publication Changing Narratives which was launched at this event.”
Ms Rwigamba also asked attendees to address issues such as climate change while continuing to drive the growth of agriculture and ATVET throughout Africa. “I hope your time spent at this summit and the interaction with various ecosystem actors has been an insightful and empowering experience,” she ended by saying.
It was a memorable moment at the Ghana Grows AgroFusion Festival to witness the launch of a book titled ‘Changing Narratives’, which contains a compilation of 200 impact stories of young entrepreneurs from all 16 regions of Ghana who are making strides in agriculture, agribusiness, and A-TVET.
The festival’s summit featured coaching sessions conducted by industry leaders and resource persons, such as the Food and Drugs Authority and the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), who gave attendees important information on how to develop their own abilities and take advantage of opportunities to reach their goals.
Mrs. Comfort Ocran, Executive Director of the Springboard Road Show Foundation, conveyed her sincere appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation for their commitment to the continent’s youth.
“Without the Mastercard Foundation’s unwavering dedication, the youth on the Ghana Grows program would not have been able to accomplish these noteworthy accomplishments. Our partner’s dedication and our beneficiaries’ tireless efforts motivate us at Springboard to uphold our pledge to them to “ignite young dreams, one person at a time,” Mrs. Ocran emphasized.
Joyful Mildred Akotia emphasized in her victory speech that “the journey hasn’t been simple.” We are all living proof that hard effort does, in fact, pay off today, and anyone familiar with my narrative can attest to the fact that it has been one of tenacity and a strong desire to change the world.
“Without the Mastercard Foundation’s unwavering dedication, the youth on the Ghana Grows program would not have been able to accomplish these noteworthy accomplishments. Our partner’s dedication and our beneficiaries’ tireless efforts motivate us at Springboard to uphold our pledge to them to “ignite young dreams, one person at a time,” Mrs. Ocran emphasized.
Joyful Mildred Akotia emphasized in her victory speech that “the journey hasn’t been simple.” We are all living proof that hard effort does, in fact, pay off today, and anyone familiar with my narrative can attest to the fact that it has been one of tenacity and a strong desire to change the world.
The AgroFusion festival’s second edition demonstrated the dynamic spirit of innovation in Ghana’s agriculture industry and the transformational potential of teamwork and mentoring. The AgroFusion Festival, which began last year, has served as the focal point for combining a number of activities, such as conferences, exhibits, book launches, and award shows honoring young pioneers in Agribusiness and Agriculture Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET).
Musicians Dope Nation, Lasmid, Kwame Eugene, Byno Ayoni, Meraki Arts, Adelaide the Seer, and numerous other artists treated the audience to fantastic music and art during the two-day Festival’s entertainment nights.
Undoubtedly, even if the festival is over, the excitement and energy it inspired can serve as a catalyst for innovation and progress in the agricultural sector, guaranteeing a prosperous future for Ghanaian business and agriculture and ensuring that Ghana does indeed grow.
With the assistance of more than 100 partners and collaborators, the Mastercard Foundation and Springboard Road Show Foundation collaborate on the Ghana Grows Program. It is a youth-led program designed to encourage and assist young people in finding and pursuing respectable and rewarding careers in the fields of agriculture, agribusiness, and agritechnical and vocational skills.
