Pollutants detection device wins AGA local maiden innovation challenge
Unemployment among the youth is a critical challenge facing many countries, including Ghana, driven by large youth populations and limited job creation.
Ghana’s youth unemployment rate is around 14.7 per cent.
Successive governments have implemented several policies and programmes to equip the youth with entrepreneurial skills and opportunities to become self-employed and contribute to the growth of the economy.
That notwithstanding, more interventions are required from private organisations, in addition to those of the government, to absorb the youth, thereby enabling them to contribute significantly to national development.
In a bid to contribute to reducing youth unemployment in Obuasi and its surrounding communities, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine (AGA) launched the maiden business innovation challenge six months ago.
The challenge, which is to recognise the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that thrives within the Obuasi community, was borne out of a vision to empower entrepreneurs and innovators who are shaping high-growth potential businesses in the area.
From the initial 42 contestants, through rigorous coaching, training and vetting, 10 outstanding finalists were shortlisted to pitch their transformative and groundbreaking ideas, out of which the first five were awarded cash prizes.
Outcome
At the competition, Airo tix technologies, which showcased a product that can detect the levels of air pollutants in the environment, emerged as winners and were awarded a cash prize of GH¢100,000.
Oli-Emma Enterprise, which is into local paint production, placed second and received a GH¢50,000 cash prize, while Charcoal master, who turned coconut shells into charcoal briquettes, placed third and received GH¢30,000.
Malynx special kelewele and I-Joy engineering Cleaning Limited took fourth and fifth place, respectively and received GH¢20,000 and GH¢10,000.
The best environmental sustainability award went to D.A. Systems, while the best woman co-founder award went to Oli-Emma Enterprise.
Development plan
In a speech read on his behalf at the event, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Samuel Pobee, said the challenge was a key component of the mine’s 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).
He stated that SEDP underscored the mine’s commitment to promoting local enterprise growth, creating sustainable employment, diversifying the local economy and driving long-term community development.
“We believe that by investing in our local talent, we stimulate economic development that raises the profiles of not just Obuasi businesses that contribute towards building resilient and self-sustaining communities,” he said.
He stated that the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine recognised the immense potential of local entrepreneurs and further indicated they had implemented several enterprise and skills development training workshops to complement the innovation challenges.
He mentioned examples such as the skills development certification programme and the business acceleration and sustainability programme, both implemented in partnership with the Absa Bank Ghana and the MasterCard Foundation.
“Through these initiatives, we have trained 1,383 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with an impressive 53 per cent of them being women, showcasing our dedication to inclusivity and empowerment,” Mr Pobee said.
Commendation
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Obuasi East Municipality, William Kofo Adzowo, commended the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine for the intervention, saying it would empower the people to grow the local economy.
He acknowledged that it was practically impossible for the mining company to employ all the youth within its operational area, stressing, “This is obviously an opportunity given to the youth to own their businesses.”
He advised the participants that, irrespective of the competition's outcome, they should press on with their innovations and seek the necessary individual or corporate support to commercialise their ideas for national development.
The Dompoase Twafohene, Nana Kwame Bodei, in a remark, expressed appreciation to the mining company for the initiative aimed at reducing youth unemployment within the Obuasi enclave.
For his part, the Operations and Research Officer at Airo tix technologies, the firm that won the challenge, Wesley Akanyako, expressed delight at winning the competition and pledged to put the funds to good use to grow their business.
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