The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Government’s flagship entrepreneurial policy initiative, has conferred on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the title of “Dwadie Mpuntuhene (King of Enterprise).
This is in recognition of the President’s commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and youth development.
At a ceremony in Accra on Friday, President Akufo-Addo was presented with a traditional stool and culturally decorated plaque by the Management of NEIP to signify his new status.
The event coincided with the climax of the Presidential Pitch Season Five.
NEIP, an initiative of the President, aims to provide comprehensive national support to start-ups and small businesses.
It primarily focuses on providing business development services, start-up incubators, and funding to help emerging businesses grow and succeed.
The Programme is set within the context of Ghana’s long-term strategic vision of consolidating the country’s middle-income status and building an industry-driven economy capable of providing decent jobs that are suitable and sustainable for development.
Under the initiative, some 15, 000 business start-ups had been created, with 2,000 young entrepreneurs receiving training in entrepreneurship to better develop their innovative ideas.
In an address, President Akufo-Addo said since its start, the Programme had supported over 200, 000 youth across the country.
He emphasized that the government’s commitment to empowering the youth remained unchanged, and that this influenced his administration’s choice to implement the Presidential pitch.
The idea, he said, was borne out of a deliberate, systematic, and integrated policy by the NEIP to boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
On other initiatives, the Government’s youth-friendly development modules under the YouStart Programme, Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Ghana CARES “Obataan Pa” Programme had benefitted some 1.6 million youth, the President noted.
“We are on the right path,” he said of the strides made over the years, adding that his Administration was focused on building an entrepreneurial nation.
In paying tribute to the late Deputy Finance Minister, John Ampontuah Kumah, for his immense contribution to the growth of the NEIP, the President said from next year, the Presidential Pitch would be christened the “John Kumah Week of Entrepreneurship.”
Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NEIP, said the Management decided to honour the President due to his unflinching support for the activities of the Programme.
He disclosed that since 2017, about 250, 000 beneficiaries had been provided with decent jobs under the Programme, and that a considerable number of entrepreneurs had also received funding to expand their businesses.
Season Five Presidential Pitch saw the 10 finalists receiving cheques ranging from GHS80, 000 to GHS250, 000.
They presented innovative business ideas that have the potential to be developed into feasible, scalable, employable, and impactful businesses, including green technology, waste management and processing, climate-friendly and smart agricultural practices, as well as security installations and disease detection devices.
GNA