The third edition of the Israeli Green Innovation Competition came to a successful end at the closing ceremony of the 9^th edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show.

Maxwell Kojo Xonu emerged as the winner, ahead of four other competitors, with his EbaPreneur Solutions. The innovation involves producing briquettes from waste organic materials and solar-drier fabrications.

Mr Xonu wins a fully paid trip to Israel, including meetings with potential investors and internationally acclaimed Israeli startups that will help him commercialize the innovation.

After six weeks of receiving many entries across the country, five finalists made it to the final pitch of the 2021 Israeli Green Innovation Competition.

The other four finalists were Yusif Sadique from Sadique Cluster Farms & Agri Consult; Selma Phidelia Korley of Nature Code; Ernest Apetsi of Stillmore and Kwadwo Asare Apori of Design Innovation Center.

In her remarks, newly designated Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Shlomit Sufa, stated that: “this is the third time we have committed to hosting the Israeli Green Innovation Competition and for us, it is a real pleasure to see each year, incredible young innovative and talented Ghanaian entrepreneurs, apply and participate in the competition.”

She also expressed gratitude to the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement and the management of Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa) for their professional collaboration and organisation of the 9^th edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show.

On her part, Madam Esther Cobber, C. E. O of Stratcomm Africa, expressed delight in both the quality of the entries and the level of interest in this year’s competition.

She said: “with the Israeli Green Innovation Competition startups are being encouraged to do amazing things that will help transform Ghana. She encouraged more young entrepreneurs to apply next year for the award.

Judges for the competition were Israeli Ambassador-Designate, Shlomit Sufa, Esther N. A. Cobbah of Stratcomm Africa; Mona Asem, Advisory Board Member of the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement; Foster Awintiti Akugri, Founder & President, Hacklab Foundation; Felix Baidoo, Sustainability and Responsibility Manager, Guinness Ghana Breweries Plc., and Managing Director of Metro TV, Kayode Akintemi.

Instituted in 2019, the Israeli Green Innovation Competition (IGIC) seeks to honour individuals and organisations that come up with innovative solutions that promote environmental conservation and agriculture in Ghana.

The initiative is undertaken in collaboration with the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement.

The Competition activities are therefore hosted by the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement and managed by Stratcomm Africa, initiators of the Movement.

Past winners of the competition are Prince Pius Nutsugah from Coologi Ghana, who won the competition in 2019 and has made the trip to Israel Jefferey Appiagyei of SAYeTECH, the winner in last year’s competition in November 2020, will travel to the State of Israel as soon as COVID-19 related restrictions are eased further.