Businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs have been issued a passionate plea to participate in the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF), which has been hailed as a "game changer" for the continent's economic development.

The rallying cry came from Dr. Summy Smart Francis, Project Lead for the Global Entrepreneurship Festival, during an exclusive press soiree held at the La Palm Beach Hotel on Friday, September 19.

The event served as a major preparatory mixer for the festival, set to take place in Ghana later this year.

The Project Lead emphasised that the festival would be a "big win" for both Ghana and Africa in general, serving as a critical platform to empower entrepreneurs who are the "drivers and lifeline of any economy."

GEF 2025: Features and Strategic Benefits for Businesses

The Global Entrepreneurship Festival, often described as the World's Biggest Entrepreneurship Event, is scheduled to take place at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel & Resort in Accra from November 21 to 23, 2025, coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Last Friday, we hosted the Global Entrepreneurship Festival Media Soirée at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel it was an elegant evening of networking and briefing ✨

Together, we set the stage for GEF 2025, building anticipation for a truly global celebration of entrepreneurship,… pic.twitter.com/V0PjamJDAw

— Global Entrepreneurship Festival (@Globalefest) September 22, 2025

The event is designed to transform innovative ideas into tangible enterprises, with organizers expecting to host over 5,000 participants during the conferences and up to 15,000 attendees on the final day's closing concert.

Businesses are strongly encouraged to participate for the following strategic features and benefits:

Feature/Component	Purpose & Business Benefit	Data/Figures
Investor Pitch Sessions	Direct access to secure funding for scaling operations. Businesses will pitch to local and international financiers.	Expecting pitches to over 100 Investors & Venture Capitalists (VCs).
International Trade Fair & Exhibition	Allows businesses to showcase products/services to a global audience, generate high-quality leads, and explore new markets.	Exhibition booths are categorized: Standard ($200), Premium ($1000), and Prestige ($2000).
Conferences & Workshops	Knowledge transfer, design thinking, and co-creation of solutions with global thought leaders.	12 concurrent events over three days focusing on innovation and global challenges.
Networking & Strategic Alliances	Building valuable relationships with decision-makers, industry influencers, and potential global partners.	Aimed at fostering collaborations and shared prosperity across nations.
Global Recognition Award Gala	Enhances brand credibility and provides media exposure for companies and individuals excelling in their sectors.	Features prestigious awards like the Global Innovation Award and Corporate Governance Award.
Innovation Expo & Hackathon	Focuses on groundbreaking solutions, technology, and robotics, attracting innovators and tech investors.	Addresses global challenges, including progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Francis emphasised that the event is designed to address Africa's challenges and reposition the continent's entrepreneurs as key drivers of social transformation.

Bola Ray Commends Media's Crucial Role

In his address to the media at the soiree, the Country Board Chair for Ghana, Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi, popularly known as Bola Ray, underscored the indispensable role of the press in amplifying the entrepreneurial narrative.

Bola Ray, a renowned media mogul and CEO of EIB Network, noted that media platforms are vital for both the growth of the festival and for empowering the entrepreneurs it seeks to celebrate.

He urged the media to embrace teamwork and continue supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem, stressing that success requires collaboration, not just individual effort.

The festival promises to be a convergence of global leaders, innovators, investors, and policymakers, positioning Ghana as a central hub for deal-making and idea creation in Africa.