Winners of the 5th Edition of the Presidential Pitch have applauded President Nana Akufo-Addo for the initiative, which seeks to empower young entrepreneurs.

Namgwinaa Samuel emerged victorious in the Presidential Pitch – Season 5, capturing hearts with his groundbreaking Smart Switch System.

This innovation, which enables automatic energy consumption control and remote task execution, also doubles as a security-controlled communication system.

His victory was crowned with the prestigious Dr. John Kumah Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation awarded by none other than President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Samuel’s journey to this monumental achievement was not easy. As one of the top 10 finalists in the competition, he stood out among over 300 applicants from diverse fields, all vying for the coveted GHC250,000 prize.

The Presidential Pitch gave these emerging leaders, including Samuel, the platform to showcase their revolutionary ideas.

According to the beneficiaries, the initiative is a testament to the President's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.

In a short ceremony held at the Office of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to hand over certificates and to officially receive cash awards, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, Mr Kofi Ofosu Nkansah explained that ”The Presidential Pitch has become a catalyst for youth entrepreneurship in Ghana, with a focus on empowering young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality.”

“Since its inception in 2017, NEIP has supported over 250,000 beneficiaries with business development support, provided starter packs to 35,000 businesses, and facilitated funding for 15,000 entrepreneurs, resulting in the creation of over 100,000 jobs,” Mr Ofosu Nkansah disclosed.

In all, thirty-five (35) winners received cash awards ranging from 30,000 to 250,000 Ghana cedis and a certificate of participation. They will also benefit from continued business advisory services and mentoring from partner business incubation and acceleration hubs in their area of operations.