About 65 Startups across the country have been honoured at the 6th edition of the Young Entrepreneur Awards, held in Accra.
The annual award ceremony is aimed at celebrating ambitious and indigenous Ghanaian Start-up businesses that are making an impact, contributing to economic growth, meeting social needs and putting the country on the global map.
The event saw the Chief Executive Officer of Medpoint Pharmacy Limited, Eliphas Kwabena Agyemang coming top as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Also, the President of JACCD Design Institute Africa, Mrs. Joyce Ababio received an Honorary Award and was adjudged Startup Mentor of the Year in recognition of her tremendous support and mentoring of the Ghanaian youth and startup businesses over the years.
Speaking to the B&FT about the Start-up landscape at the event held on the theme, ‘Innovate, Collaborate and Invest for Greater Impact’, Executive Director of the Ghana Startup Network, Solomon Adjei, emphasised that government must be deliberate about employing measures to develop outstanding start-ups and their businesses as they are capable of contributing hugely to the country’s economy.
Currently, SMEs account for 92 percent of all businesses and about 70 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Government needs to be deliberate when it comes to start-ups development. What funds are available that support business creation and sustainability? Access to finance, market and policies are key to enabling businesses to operate, and these are the areas I think government should be focusing on when it comes to job creation among the youth,” he said.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Eliphas Kwabena Agyemang also urged other entrepreneurs to be strategic and work hard in order to stay afloat especially in the light of economic challenges.
“Everyone out there who has an idea…implement it, take a step. If you take a step, automatically there are going to be people to assist you, if you keep it to yourself and you go to someone to assist you, what is the person going to base on to assist you? First, make a move and you’re going to be there”, he added.
Other top award winners
The Social Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Peter Kwadwo Asare Nyarko, Center for Financial Literacy Education; Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year went to Gifty Serwaa Bonsu, Pino Bridals; Student Entrepreneur Of The Year went to Josephine Toudeka, Toudeka Enterprise; Agrobusiness Entrepreneur of the Year went to Dakui Dawda Jankome, Dakui Farms and Trading Enterprise; Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year went to Theresa Brown, Mba Mode Ghana Limited; and Service Provider of the Year went to Van-Ess Alootey, Universal Marketing Consultancy.
Also, Logistics Entrepreneur of the Year went to Iddrisu Abdul Latif, Brain TDS; Technology Entrepreneur of the Year went to Richmond Asumadu, Brich Company Ltd; Green Business of the Year went to Zeenatu Suglo Adams, Pneuma Food Scientifics; and Manufacturer of the Year went to Josephine Jackson, House of Angels.
