Ghana is set to host the first ever annual Africa StartUp Cup competition in Accra.

The three-day maiden event will begin on April 28 and end on April 30, 2016.

The announcement was made during a special ceremony at the close of the Ghana StartUp Cup Challenge Award Celebration.

“The Africa StartUp Cup is an extraordinary event designed to showcase and celebrate entrepreneurs from every conceivable industry, and in the process shine a global light on the power of Africa entrepreneurs and startups to improve lives.

"Ghana was one of the first StartUp Cups ever to be held outside the United States, and it is especially fitting that they are now hosting the first annual Africa StartUp Cup”, said Sean Griffin, CEO and Founder of StartUp Cup.

The Africa StartUp Cup will bring together  first place winners from local StartUp Cups in the African continent.

Currently there are 18 StartUp Cup Challenges organized in Africa. The first place winners from each local competition that holds their awards celebration before April 15, 2016 will be eligible to enter into the Africa StartUp Cup Challenge.

The selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to travel to Ghana to present their business models to an international panel of judges.

Ghana was selected despite interests from other African countries based on her commitment to developing a robust ecosystem where the culture of entrepreneurship is a priority.

The three-day program shall consist of StartUp Cup's Summit on Africa's Growth and economic progress, pitches, mentorship, as well as coaching and training for delegates of the program.

“We are extremely proud to have been selected to host the first Africa StartUp Cup”, said Emmanuel Nyame, The Director for Ghana StartUp Cup.

“It is inspiring to see the growing impact of StartUp Cup on Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the ongoing support from community partners to feature entrepreneurship as a powerful path to sustained economic growth,” he said.

The Startup Cup is an international portfolio of entrepreneurial programs proven to grow entrepreneurs, jobs and enhance entrepreneurial ecosystems.

StartUp Cup represents a global network of hyper-local accelerators featuring business model competitions in more than 60 countries.