The CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) has praised the Mastercard Foundation for its sustained commitment to youth empowerment across Africa.

Margaret Ansei described the Foundation's interventions as “transformative” and vital to shaping the continent’s future.

She made the remarks on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the launch of the Mastercard Foundation Youth Futures Initiative and Stakeholder Engagement Meeting held at the ISSER Conference Facility, University of Ghana.

Delivering the keynote address, Ms. Ansei commended both the Mastercard Foundation and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) for what she called a “timely and significant event,” stressing that youth-focused development is central to achieving sustainable national progress.

“The Youth Futures Initiative rightly centres on quality education, skills development, and dignified employment,” she said.

“But what stands out most is its recognition of youth voice, agency, and creativity. This is the future we must build—a future where no young person is left behind.”

She highlighted the GEA’s ongoing collaboration with the Foundation, referencing key initiatives such as the Business in a Box (BizBox) Project and the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for the Youth (HAPPY) Project.

The BizBox Project, she explained, equips young people with entrepreneurial training, startup kits, and mentorship.

The HAPPY Project supports youth participation in agribusiness by targeting post-production value chains in rice, soybean, tomato, and poultry.

“These projects are not just creating jobs,” Ms. Ansei noted. “They are cultivating a generation of resilient and empowered young entrepreneurs ready to drive Ghana’s economic transformation.”

Turning to policy, she voiced strong support for President John Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Agenda, calling it a powerful enabler of innovation and inclusion.

“The 24-hour economy policy is especially relevant for our youth. An economy that never sleeps supports innovation and empowers enterprise,” she said.

Ms. Ansei ended her address with a call for collective action. “Let us invest not only in projects, but in people, with full confidence that their ingenuity will multiply our efforts in ways we can only begin to imagine.”

The launch event drew participation from Mastercard Foundation officials, development partners, students, and the media.

Director of ISSER, Prof. Peter Quartey, also commended the Foundation, calling the initiative a timely intervention aligned with Ghana’s economic development goals.

He emphasised that such partnerships are critical to addressing youth unemployment and preparing the next generation for future opportunities.