Three young innovators have been celebrated for their groundbreaking entrepreneurial and innovative ideas at the Youth Innovation Circles (YIC) Pitch and Demo Day.

Joshua Yeboah won the top prize of GHC 10,000 for his 'Aboboya' Electric Tricycle, to support his aspiration to revolutionize transportation in rural communities.

The initiative organized by Hapa Space in collaboration with UNDP and the MasterCard Foundation, underscores a significant push towards youth-led entrepreneurship and job creation in Ghana.

The competition featured 12 finalists, each presenting innovative solutions to local challenges.

Deyok Foods took home GHC 7,000 as the first runner-up with their agro-processing innovations, while Lois and Louisa Kyeretwie of L & L Palace clinched GHC 5,000 for their entrepreneurial contributions.

The winners were applauded for their creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, and dedication to solving real-world problems.

The initiative not only rewards creativity but also aims to create over 2,500 direct jobs by fostering an ecosystem that supports the growth and scalability of youth-led ventures.

Chief Technical Advisor for the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) programme at UNDP Ghana, Allen Anie, underscored the importance of empowering unconventional innovators to drive impactful solutions.
He indicated the platform presented a myriad of enablers for businesses that have not benefited from traditional entrepreneurship incubation and funding programmes.

“Bringing these young and marginalized innovators into a structured entrepreneurship ecosystem to help them develop, test and scale their innovations will create dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for them and their communities.

“We have seen a lot of remarkable innovations in agro-processing, including creative ways to transform farm produce into powder and preserve it for wider markets. It’s often said that those closest to the problem have a better understanding of the solution, they just need support to bring that vision to life,” he said.

The YIC programme, part of the broader Young Africa Innovates initiative, targets youth aged 18 to 35, with a special focus on including 70% female entrepreneurs, people with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities.

The approach is designed to nurture and scale viable business ideas through rigorous selection, mentoring, and financial support phases, aiming to transform local economies by integrating innovative solutions into everyday challenges.

Joshua Yeboah shared his vision for the future, and the invention aimed at assisting local community farmers.

“My aim is to build an electric transport system that is both environmentally friendly and affordable to help farmers in rural communities transport their goods to markets and towns.

“I want to produce these tricycles to help farmers in rural areas cart their produce to the markets. This will solve the problem of struggling to find a means of transportation while their harvests go rotten on the farms,” he shared.