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GHANA WEATHER

Prop up local inventors to build Ghana -WEA

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Government, Civil Society and faith-based organizations have been tasked to adopt a mechanism to identify and develop the skill sets and resource capacities of local inventors, artisans and young business owners.

The National Coordinator of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Business Coalition in Ghana, Raphael Godlove Ahenu who made call, indicated that the move will greatly stimulate a speedy growth of Ghana’s economy and lead to the establishment of more businesses locally.

He pointed out that setting up of more businesses will not only reduce unemployment among the youth but equally inspire confidence in local entrepreneurs.

Mr. Ahenu made the call at an encounter dubbed: ‘World Evangelical Alliance Business Coalition Breakfast with the Media’ held in Accra to deliberate on issues confronting Ghana’s business sector.

The National Coordinator of WEA Business Coalition in Ghana observed that Ghana is indeed brimming with a new generation of daring and creative entrepreneurs who are making waves in developing new technologies to simplify and transform the lives of the people bearing in mind global appeal and commercial viability.

He quoted Kent Mensah, the son of Ghanaian talented but ignored inventor, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo “the whites believed in themselves and got to where they are now. They are not different from us. We all stayed in our mothers’ womb for nine months”.

Mr Ahenu expressed worry about how most local inventors had been neglected over the years, and entrepreneurship programmes designed for young people in Ghana to become entrepreneurs also only focused more on paper certification instead of development of attitudes and skills.

He continued that Ghana holds the potential to become one of the leading economic and industrial hubs in Africa if special attention would be given to the educational, skills and economic empowerment of the young people who constitute more than half of the country’s population.

Mr. Ahenu who is also a journalist, opined that Ghana is blessed with a lot of resources and one of such resources is her youthful human capital who are full of energy, skills, and ready to showcase their talents.

He however, intimated that, the way out is for Ghana to promote Youth Enterprise Development through entrepreneurship.

Mr. Ahenu cited the boy wonder, Samuel Naamgwinaa, who is a first-year student of the Don Bosco Technical Institute at Odumase near Sunyani in the Bono Region, who has used empty paper boxes and other materials to design a remote-controlled dummy vehicle, an electronic wardrobe, water heater, a simple solar system for powering cell phones and lighting bulbs, as well as a computer game console among others, as typical example of young Ghanaians who need to be identified and supported to contribute to the development of Ghana.

Even though the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has indicated Government’s readiness to support the 18 year old inventor, Mr. Ahenu encouraged the Government and its partners to look beyond just Samuel Naamgwinaa and identify other equally talented young people and support them to come up. He also cited another classic inventor, Charles Ofori Antipem, 25, who has also invented Science Kit (a small black box containing all essential tools needed for science practicals).

Three engineering students from the All Nations University College (ANUC) in Koforidua also designed, built and launched Ghana’s first Space Satellite into orbit.

The devise has low and high resolution camera on board capable of taking pictures of Ghana and providing data on happenings on Ghana’s coastal areas and the environment to the outside world.

The National Coordinator of WEA Business Coalition congratulated young Samuel, Charles and others, and encouraged them to explore further for more inventions that would bring Ghana into the limelight.

He also encouraged the Government and financial institutions to support such talents and small business ventures, create access to innovative financing models that will enable them to set up as well as thrive.

Mr. Ahenu challenged Ghanaians to value and patronize local products in order to put the local economy on a strong footing.

Story Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo

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