Jutta Urpilainen (right), European Commissioner for International Partnership, inspecting some organic fertiliser made from cocoa husks. Picture: ELVIS NII NOI DOWUONA

EU expresses commitment to nurture young entrepreneurs

Justice Agbenorsi Apr - 02 - 2022 , 16:22 2 minutes read

The European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, has expressed the EU’s commitment to help nurture young entrepreneurs in the country.

“Entrepreneurs trigger positive changes in their communities by creating jobs and developing innovative solutions to local and global issues such as climate change.

“Today, I have seen remarkable projects and brilliant young people, and I am proud that the EU is contributing to making these ideas become reality.”

The commissioner expressed her commitment when she visited young entrepreneurs at Innohub, a business accelerator and investment platform supporting entrepreneurs in the green and circular economy in Accra on Thursday.

The commissioner was in the company of the project manager of GrEEn Initiative, Beatrice Tschinkel; the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo; the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Ramiandrasoa Razaaly; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, among other officers of state, and the EU.

The meeting formed part of activities of the commissioner’s visit to the country.

Discussions

Discussions centred on sustainable business ideas and green growth in the country. Some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from different sectors of the economy, including cocoa and waste management, also shared their stories, innovative approaches, and how their businesses were contributing to turning their ideas into reality.

Some of the SMEs were beneficiaries of a maiden green employment and enterprise opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) innovation challenge who received grants in various sums last year to help expand their businesses.

The programme was an initiative of The Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV Ghana, in collaboration with the EU, the principal donor of the project.

Gratitude

The Founder of Supreme Pod Limited, Michael Acquah, a beneficiary of the GrEEn project, shared his entrepreneurial journey with the commissioner and expressed gratitude to the EU for its continuous support to businesses in the country.