All is set for the construction of a grain processing factory at Gwollu, the Sissala West District Capital.
The factory is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for residents in thecommunity as well as help improve on their nutrition.
The winner of the maiden edition of the Presidential Pitch, Vanessa Aisha Limann in anexclusive interview with Radio Ghana’s Mark Smith at Gwollu in the Upper West Region said the necessary equipment to begin large scale production of “breakfast cereals” have been procured while a site is being readied to fix the machines.
Miss Limann said the financial support has gone a long way to help her scale up production adding that all things being equal, largescale production of her “breakfast cereals” will begin in September.
“As at now, I am working on my machines, I have bought them and am planning on transporting them to Gwollu to establish my factory; so latest by Septmeber, I would be starting production. I will produce in the Upper West Region and transport to Accra. I have a warehouse in Accra where the product will stored and packaged,” she said.
The Presidential Pitch is a business idea competition designed by the Ministry of Business Development to offer young Ghanaians the opportunity to market their businesses in order to getfinancial assistance.
It forms part of President Akufo -Addo’s vision to assist young people nurture and grow their business.
The 19 year old winner of the maiden edition of the Presidential Pitch Vanessa Aisha Limann took home a 50-thousand Ghana-Cedi investment package as well as a personal donation of 25 thousand Ghana-Cedis from the President.
She disclosed to Radio Ghana that the link to the official site of the competition was sent to her, by her mother.
“After my mother sent me the Presidential Pitch link, I decided to give it a try. I went on the internet to research more about writing a business plan and how to pitch. I was able to come up with my own business plan,summarize it and also write a pitch,” Miss Limann said.
She said she was very excited winning the competition considering the very stiff competition she faced saying “I didn’t expect to be part of the final ten, looking at the qualifications some of my competitors had.
They were older than me with some of the having the Masters Degrees andPhDs and so I didn’t expect to come this far.”
Miss Limann said she has hope of making her products, “Neslac Wheat Crunch” and “Neslac Maize Instant Cereal” the preferred made in Ghana breakfast cereal in the country.
She said her products which were developed through innovation and lots of research on the internet are nutritious, sumptuous and ready to use.
She said:, “I have two products, the Neslac Wheat Crunchand Neslac Maize Instant Cereal. The Neslac Wheat Crunch is considered as a health productbecause it is good for dieting. If you also want to lose some weight you take it. You just pour aglass of milk and you are good to go. I intend on making my products the foremost breakfastcereal in the country.”
She was grateful to the President for the support and advised young people to use their time onthe internet productively rather than posting needless pictures on social media saying “you should utilize the internet well. You should go on the internet taking photos, Instagram and allthat. Meanwhile, the internet has a lot of positive things you can use it for.”
Story by Mark Smith
