B&FT rewards 10 start-ups, sets stage for growth and expansion

Ten young businesses emerging from this year’s Entrepreneurship Challenge, the flagship competition under the Youth Economic Forum (YEF), have received grants and support packages worth GH?130,000 from the Business and Financial Times (B&FT), giving them a crucial boost to grow and scale.

The challenge, which invites young entrepreneurs nationwide to pitch viable business ideas, forms part of the newspaper’s corporate social responsibility programme. Beyond cash grants, winners will benefit from mentorship, industry exposure and media visibility, tools aimed at helping them convert bold ideas into sustainable ventures.

This year’s Youth Economic Forum was held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, under the theme “From Potential to Prosperity: Youth Driving the New Economy.”

Organised by B&FT in partnership with Ecobank Ghana, UPSA and the Moreshet Foundation, the forum creates a space for competition, training and policy dialogue – allowing young innovators to test ideas while engaging policymakers and industry leaders on the future of Ghana’s economy.

Speaking at the event, B&FT Chief Executive Officer Dr. Godwin Acquaye said the initiative was conceived to complement the long-running Ghana Economic Forum by focusing squarely on youth enterprise.

“We began a few years ago, and this is our third edition. We believe empowering young people today will strengthen the economy tomorrow,” he said.

A defining moment for winners

The YEF Entrepreneurship Challenge declared Yvonne Nuoriyee of Edible Treats as the overall winner, earning GH?50,000.00 worth of support to scale her business. Cordelia Ganaa of Nelia’s Foods secured second place with GH?30,000.00 in support, while Aliu Sowah of ASA Angel Enterprise placed third, receiving GH?20,000.00 to advance his venture.

Monica Annim of BigFoot Sole Mate Limited claimed fourth position with GH?15,000.00 worth of support and Emmanuel Annan Agyei of K.A Fashion also received GH?15,000.00 after placing fifth.

The overall winner, Edible Treats, led by Yvonne Nuoriyee, described the recognition as a turning point.

“Winning this challenge is a defining milestone for me personally and for Edible Treats as a mission-driven enterprise,” she said. “It validates years of working at the intersection of agriculture, migration and youth livelihoods, proving that adding value to Ghana’s cocoa while creating dignified jobs for young people is both socially relevant and commercially viable.”

She noted that the support will help the company scale production, invest in better processing technology, strengthen supply chains with smallholder farmers and expand distribution locally and abroad. The growth, she added, will translate into steadier incomes for farmers – particularly women and youth – and reduce the pressures that push young people away from farming.

Nuoriyee also highlighted the value of mentorship and networking that accompany the award, saying they will help transform Edible Treats from a promising startup into a resilient agribusiness capable of competing globally while staying rooted in community impact.

“By investing in Edible Treats, you didn’t just support a chocolate brand – you invested in rural livelihoods, youth employment and a more sustainable future for Ghana’s cocoa sector,” she said.

Building tomorrow’s businesses

For B&FT and its partners, the Entrepreneurship Challenge is about more than prize money. It is about nurturing a pipeline of young entrepreneurs who can create jobs, deepen local value addition and drive Ghana’s next phase of economic growth.

As the forum closed, organisers urged policymakers, investors and industry leaders to back youth-led innovation with the same urgency – arguing that the country’s economic future will depend on how well today’s ideas are turned into tomorrow’s thriving businesses.

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