Giving local inventors the means to build their economy – WEA Business Coalition

Company News of Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Source: Edmond Gyebi

2019-02-20

Raphael Godlove Ahenu, national coordinator of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Business Coalition in Ghana, called on the government, civil society and other faith-based organizations to adopt ways of identifying and identifying 39, improve the capacities, knowledge and resources of local inventors, artisans and other young entrepreneurs.

He said this would significantly boost the rapid growth of Ghana's local economy, strengthen the creation of more Ghanaian businesses, instill confidence in local entrepreneurs and reduce the high youth unemployment rate.

Ahenu made the call during a media meeting entitled "WEA Business Coalition Breakfast with the Media", held in Accra, in order to engage with the media on the issues at stake. confronted the business sector in Ghana.

Ghana is bursting with a new generation of daring and creative innovators and entrepreneurs who are constantly inventing and developing new technologies that will simplify people's lives and turn technology-based societies into global appeal and innovation. commercial viability.

He quoted Kent Mensah, the son of the Ghanaian inventor, talented but ignored, the apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo: "The whites believed in themselves and arrived where they are now. They are not different from us. We all stayed in our mothers' womb for nine months. "

He is concerned about the way most local inventors have been neglected over the years, and the entrepreneurship programs designed for Ghana's youth to become entrepreneurs are also focusing on paper certification rather than development. attitudes and skills.

The National Coordinator of the WEA Business Coalition noted that Ghana could become one of Africa's leading economic and industrial centers if special attention was given to education, skills and skills. Economic empowerment of young people, who represent more than half of the country's population.

"Ghana is fortunate to have a lot of resources, and one of these resources is our young human resource full of energy, skills, enthusiasm and willing to showcase its talents . But the solution is for Ghana to promote the development of young businesses through entrepreneurship.

Mr. Ahenu quoted the young man, Samuel Naamgwinaa, a freshman at the Don Bosco Technical Institute of Odumase, near Sunyani, in the Bono area, who used empty paper boxes and other materials to design a remote-controlled dummy vehicle. , an electronic cabinet, a water heater, a simple solar system to power cell phones and light bulbs, as well as a video game console among others, as a A typical example of Ghanaians who need to be identified and supported to contribute to Ghana's development. .

Even though the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng promised that the government was ready to support the inventor of 18 years, Mr. Ahenu encouraged the government and its partners to look beyond Samuel Naamgwina Identify other equally talented young people and encourage them to make themselves known.

He also cited another clbadic inventor, Charles Ofori Antipem, 25, who also invented Science Kit (a small black box containing all the tools essential to scientific practice), including electronic components, iron filings for the Electromagnetism, the light box, mirrors, etc. in the middle, the batteries that feed everything.

Three engineering students from the University College of Nations (ANUC) in Koforidua also designed, built and launched Ghana's first space satellite in orbit. The camera is equipped with a high and low resolution camera capable of taking photos of Ghana and providing data on events occurring in Ghana's coastal areas and on the environment to the outside world.

The WEA Business Coalition's national coordinator congratulated the young Samuel, Charles and others, and encouraged them to make greater use of inventions that would put Ghana in the spotlight.

He also encouraged the government and other financial institutions to support these talents, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to create access to innovative financing models that will allow them to establish themselves and expand their businesses.

Ahenu challenged Ghanaians to value and value local products to encourage local inventors, artisans and businesses to do more to support Ghana's economy.