Ghana Grows AgroFusion Festival celebrates young innovators in agric, agribusiness

The Ghana Grows AgroFusion Festival ended on a high note with three outstanding young entrepreneurs—Audrey Forson, CEO of Tekura Designs; Longue Sylvester Abdul Razak of Sly Farms; and Mildred Akotia of Akwaaba Foods—being named the Young Innovators of the Year for their impressive achievements in Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Agriculture Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET).

Each received a prize package that included a citation, a plaque, and GH¢15,000, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to Kenya, where they will meet other agripreneurs to exchange ideas and explore collaborations.

In addition to the top three awardees, seven finalists were recognized for their innovative contributions to the agricultural sector. These included Edna Frimpong, known as Shoemakergurl; Edna Vorsah of Herb Garden; Emmanuel Twene of QET Organic Farms Limited; Martha Opoku of Deahenkan Foods Limited; Munkaila Mohammed of DolcaFresh Fruit Juice; Nikki Okrah of Chaku Foods; and Elselund Ewudzie Sampson of Big Samps Market. A special award was also given to KEAD, a project by students from the Aburi Girls Robotics Club.

The awards were presented in Koforidua during the festival, which is designed to celebrate and project the efforts of young innovators in agribusiness and ATVET, with a special focus on empowering young women and persons with disabilities.

In her keynote address, Rica Rwigamba, Country Director for Mastercard Foundation in Ghana, highlighted the Ghana Grows Programme’s dedication to empowering young entrepreneurs and connecting them with key players in the agriculture and ATVET sectors. She encouraged participants to leverage these connections to grow their ventures and address pressing challenges such as climate change. “I celebrate the role of young people in transforming the agriculture sector,” Rwigamba noted, referencing innovations featured in the newly launched book Changing Narratives, a compilation of 200 impact stories from young entrepreneurs across Ghana.

The two-day festival also featured coaching sessions led by key industry players such as the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and the Food and Drugs Authority. These sessions offered participants insights into improving their skills and maximizing opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Mrs. Comfort Ocran, Executive Director of the Springboard Road Show Foundation, expressed her gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation for its unwavering support of young people on the continent. She emphasized how the foundation’s commitment, paired with the hard work of the program’s beneficiaries, continues to inspire the foundation’s mission to ignite the dreams of young Africans.

Audrey Forson, one of the top three awardees and Managing Director of Tekura Designs, used the platform to encourage young women to explore opportunities in the technical and vocational sectors. She also pledged to use her recent election as President of the Interior Designers and Decorators Association Ghana (IDDG) to mentor young women.

Similarly, Longue Sylvester Abdul Razak expressed his gratitude for being recognized for his efforts in cultivating 50 acres of maize, groundnuts, soybeans, and yams in the Wa East and West districts. Mildred Akotia, visibly moved by her recognition, remarked, “It hasn’t been an easy journey. But today, we are all witnesses that hard work truly pays off.”

Since its inception last year, the AgroFusion Festival has become a vibrant hub for summits, exhibitions, book launches, and award ceremonies that highlight young innovators in agribusiness and ATVET. This year’s edition also featured nights of music and art, with performances by artists including Dope Nation, Lasmid, Kwame Eugene, and Adelaide the Seer, among others.

The festival may have ended, but the momentum generated is expected to continue driving growth and innovation in Ghana’s agricultural sector. The Ghana Grows Programme, a collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and Springboard Road Show Foundation, is supported by over 100 partners and collaborators. It is a youth-led initiative that seeks to inspire and support young people in finding fulfilling jobs in agriculture, agribusiness, and ATVET.