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Efforts to support young entrepreneurs: Govt launches GH¢1m Presidential Pitch
The Ministry of Business Development yesterday launched this year’s Presidential Pitch aimed at providing startup capital for young entrepreneurs across the country.
The initiative, as part of government’s efforts to curb the high unemployment rate, will see 10 successful applicants pitch their business ideas before a jury in a final competition slated for July 1, 2020 to qualify for financial support.
This year, government has earmarked a GH¢1 million grant for successful applicants to realise their business ideas and improve livelihoods.
The Minister, Dr Mohammed Awal speaking at the launch of the project in Accra yesterday indicated that application processes were opened for candidates from 18 to 35 years.
“There is an eight-day window, which begins today, for applicants to put in their proposals. Applicants can log on to www.mobd.gov.gh to apply or walk to the Ministry to submit their bids.
It has to be just a simple idea, maybe a page or two, but it must be one that is innovative, feasible, scalable and has the potential to create jobs. We expect to receive about 1,000 applications.”
According to Dr Awal, about 460 jobs had been created in the last two editions of the project “and this year, we hope to create about 250 jobs more.”
The Minister submitted that the rationale behind the “Presidential pitch” is to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem where the Ghanaian youth would be able to generate ideas and be supported to achieve them.
He compared the country’s youthful population to that of other nationalities and the burning drive to venture into entrepreneurship in such countries unlike Ghana.
“Elsewhere about 80 per cent of graduates have their business ideas ready before completing school and they have systems to support them but here, only 10 per cent of our graduates want to venture into entrepreneurship; the rest compete for jobs in the public or private sectors which are already choked.”
Dr Awal said, government was poised to change the status quo by “building entrepreneurs out of our young people so that they are interested in owning their businesses instead of being employees.”
He urged young people to take advantage of the initiative and apply, stressing that “this is free, transparent and here for every youth.”
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), Abigail Swad Laryea in a remark indicated that the initiative adopts strict monitoring mechanisms to ensure that business owners use funds for the intended purposes.
“So far, the previous winners are doing well. We require them to give us a report at least every six months to help us monitor progress of their businesses.
Currently our maiden winner has her products on the markets in most of the shopping centres and we are supporting her inaugurate her factory soon. The last winners are almost in the final stages of developing their ideas and we have been with them throughout,” she stated.
Ms Laryea pointed out that applicants who were unable to come out tops in the competition were also assisted to nurture their business ideas “so that they do not lose them.”
She encouraged interested persons who were unschooled to seek assistance from the Ministry to undergo the application processes and possibly qualify for the grand finale.
Source: Ghanaian Times
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
