The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, has impressed on corporate institutions the need to improve their support for young entrepreneurs in the country.
According to him, this will help in shaping the ideas and business plans as well as unearth the skills of such entrepreneurs.Access to funding and mentoring opportunities continue to impact on the growth of most start-ups in the country.
A situation, Dr. Spio-Garbrah believes could be reversed with a commitment from corporate institutions to support government’s efforts.
Dr. Spio-Garbrah also maintains providing the needed opportunity for growth will further propel employment and equip the entrepreneurs with skills relevant for the world of work.
He made these comments when he addressed an awards ceremony and dinner of the Total “Start-Upper of the Year” in Accra.
“The Republic of Ghana,not just this government but any other government, has remained dedicated to the movement of encouraging young people to be as entrepreneurial as far as possible. Quite clearly, with the advent of information and communication technology, it is now much easier for everybody. But as I say sometimes, a sixteen year old can now have as much access to information just as a sixty year old.” Dr. Spio-Garbrah stated.
He added, “It has therefore become much easier for young people to get together and gather and propose business plans as such, investors will have to help them unearth and grow.”
Launched in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Total “Start-Upper Challenge”, seeks to unearth and support young and budding entrepreneurs with financial packages as well as coaching programmes.
The three winners; Joshua Ayinbora of JE&F Company Limited, Eunice Owusu-Karikari of E-Juice Company Ltd, and Salma Abdulai of Unique Quality Product Enterprise, took home GHC 160,000 and a yearlong coaching programme for their businesses.
The coaching programmes will be sponsored by Total Petroleum Ghana Ltd.
The “Startupper of the Year by Total” Challenge is held in 34 African countries as part of Total’s overall policy of supporting the socio-economic development of all its host countries worldwide.
By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee
