The Kingdom of the Netherlands with support from Ghanaian Corporate Partners will continue to provide access to finance and business development support to Ghanaian youth-led businesses through the Orange Corners Ghana Initiative.

Orange Corners Ghana is a programme that provides access to 50,000 euros from the Orange Corners Innovation Fund for business growth. This Fund is managed by Fidelity Bank.

The initiative aims to provide exceptional youth-led businesses with the financial resources and elevated entrepreneurial capacity necessary to scale their businesses and continue their path to success.

The graduation event was the 8th Cohort of the programme since it began in 2019. The event served as a platform to showcase the success stories of Cohort 8 participants, and alumni. Inspiring testimonials from graduates highlighted the transformative impact of the programme.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, extended warm congratulations to the Cohort 8 graduates during the ceremony.

He acknowledged their perseverance and the successful completion of the programme.

Ambassador Verheul also took a moment to recognise the remarkable achievements of the Orange Corners Ghana Acceleration programme itself.

He expressed his gratitude to the programme's partners, highlighting their continued support as crucial to the program's success.

The Ambassador emphasised the transformative power of Orange Corners Ghana. Through its multifaceted approach of mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and access to finance, the program equips young entrepreneurs with the tools and resilience needed to not only navigate challenges but also emerge as trailblazers and change-makers in their respective industries.

Richard Yeboah, Director - MDF Global, took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

He recounted the programme's journey, which began in 2019 with a pilot cohort of 30 companies. Since then, the programme has provided support to over 800 aspiring entrepreneurs across Ghana.

Mr. Yeboah highlighted the increasing number of applications received, which ultimately led to the programme's expansion from Accra to Ho, Tamale, Kumasi and Takoradi.

He also emphasised the programme's unique focus on supporting companies through the formalization process, ensuring they operate within a sustainable framework. The decision to expand beyond Accra, as Mr. Yeboah pointed out, proved to be a success, fostering the growth of talented entrepreneurs across the country and ensuring a wider reach for Orange Corners Ghana's impactful offerings.

 In all, 227 talented young entrepreneurs were supported, 55% of whom were women-led. 73 of these businesses successfully graduated and proudly shared their experiences of acquiring valuable skills, building strong networks, and working to secure funding through the Orange Corners Innovation Fund. The ceremony was filled with a great sense of accomplishment.

Programme partners (MDF West Africa, Fidelity Bank, Vivo Energy, Koudijs, People's Pension Trust, MPS Tema Port, Friesland Campina, and Cargill Ghana) and guest speakers commended Orange Corners Ghana's dedication to fostering entrepreneurial talent in Ghana.

They emphasised the programme’s important role in driving economic development and fostering the growth of innovative Ghanaian businesses.