16 start-up entrepreneurs recognised at maiden edition of Ghana Start-up Awards

Sixteen start-up companies across different sectors have been rewarded at the maiden edition of the Ghana Start-up Awards in Accra.

The awards event, organised by the Start-up Network, a subsidiary of the African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE), seeks to celebrate ambitious and indigenous Ghanaian start-up businesses that are making an impact, contributing to economic growth, meeting social needs and putting Ghana on the global economic map. 

The Chief Executive Officer of TANOE, Mr Ekow Mensah, said the awards were instituted to honour young, smart and daring entrepreneurs, who, despite all the challenges they faced, had taken the risk to pursue entrepreneurship as a full-time career.

“As part of our contribution to enhancing the Start-up Ecosystem in Ghana and providing the support and public recognition needed for outstanding start-ups in Ghana to thrive, it is our pleasure to introduce to you Ghana Start-up Awards. Having worked with start-ups for many years and knowing the various challenges that entrepreneurs face in starting and growing their businesses, we find an initiative such as this as a giant step in the right direction in giving the start-ups the needed exposure, public recognition and support,” he said.  

He added that the Ghana Start-up Awards, aimed at attracting relevant attention, adequate resources, appropriate investment and contribute to the creation of a vibrant start-up ecosystem, though in its early stages, would be the biggest platform for recognising, honouring and empowering start-ups in Ghana. 

“No economy can survive and thrive without the vibrant creation of start-ups and no start-up can survive and thrive without the existence of a vibrant and resourceful start-up ecosystem,” he said. 

Award winners

Echohouse Ghana Limited, a marketing agency, was adjudged the start-up of the year, while Ms Regina Honu Agyare, a Ghanaian Software Developer, emerged as the start-up entrepreneur of the year. 

KP Photography, a photography agency which creates creative pictures telling its own stories, won the Arts, Culture and Tourism category. Mpower Payments emerged the banking and finance start-up of the year. 

In the manufacturing sector, Kantanka Automobile, an indigenous car manufacturing company, topped. The food processing start-up of the year went to Wanjo Foods. 

The student start-up of the year which recognises a start-up founded and operated by students with an impressive track record of achievements was won by Purple Trendz GH, an African Accessories fashion line based in Accra.