Ms. Eunice Mawuena Kloe is a 23-year-old Social Entrepreneur who topped the Social Enterprise category. Before graduating from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2020, she was a Junior Ambassador of Trade at the World Trade Centre Association Foundation in 2018 and worked on Community Development Projects in over six communities of Ghana. As the team President of Enactus KNUST, the Project ‘Reecoplast’ won the Ford C3 Grant of $3000. In 2019, she was awarded Top Female Entrepreneur of the Year by Total Petroleum, Ghana — an award which came with a GH¢ 90,000 business expansion funding. She is the Co-Founder of BidiGreen Ghana Limited, a company that positively contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13. Her eco-friendly agro waste sourced charcoal product is helping save lives and putting an end to deforestation. As the Project Development Assistant of a World Bank-funded project, she helps drive entrepreneurship and innovation by addressing some development challenges such as sustainability, poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Mawuena is a Jim Leech MasterCard Fellow and the Senior Project Director at the Inclab Foundation, an organisation championing entrepreneurship and encouraging young graduates and individuals to explore a career in entrepreneurship.

Mr. Isaac Kofi Nketiah took home the ultimate prize in Agriculture category. He is the Co-founder of Shamfield Ventures, a fast growing pineapple export company. He partnered a friend to go into pineapple farming after several attempts to land a job in the petroleum sector proved futile. The company owns over 20 acres of pineapple plantation with over 50 workers. The farm creates direct and indirect jobs for a lot of young people in the Pokrom community and its environs. It again provides assistance to individuals who have the passion for farming but lack the technical know-how or capital.

Nana Owusu Odum emerged victorious in the Agro-processing category. He is described as a versatile, focused and visionary leader. He is a Strategist and Financial Analyst with extensive experience in oil and gas as well as the food industry for over a decade. He has led the successful initiating, planning and execution of the brand visibility and revenue generation of the Sankofa brand and is equipped with skill for engaging stakeholders across multiple industries. He has employed about 10 porters who serve as support for transporting Sankofa products when they get to various markets.

Valerie Lawson stood out in the Beauty and Lifestyle category. She has 11 years experience in the beauty industry. Valerie was appointed Artistic Director of Maybelline NY, first appointment to be given a Ghanaian and had since gained global recognition and won multiple awards. She is the creator of ‘The Makeup Masterclass’ designed to educate, empower existing makeup artists to better their skills as artists while equipping them with tools to turn their passion and skill into thriving business.

Wedam Kadoa Rhoda is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Song-Ba Empowerment Centre. She defeated other nominees in the Community Development category. With over five years experience in Social Enterprising, she focuses on supporting women/girls who have no formal education to identify decent sources of livelihoods. Through her projects, she has empowered 10 girls who are currently masters on their own in smock weaving and sewing. In 2018, she emerged the overall best female SDGs Achiever at the Africa Youth Summit held in Accra, Ghana. Rhoda intends to create at least one Empowerment Centre in each of the 16 regions of Ghana to enable her to reach out to more women and girls through her projects.

Mr. Michael Asiedu is a multiple award winning businessman in the travel and tourism industry. Born in December 1988, he graduated from the University of Cape Coast with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Geography. He again holds Masters in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is the Founder and CEO of Rebirth Travel and Tours, a company focused on providing high quality travel and tour services in Ghana and beyond. With eight years experience in tourism marketing, Mr. Asiedu continues to promote domestic tourism and has helped most hotels to increase sales through his marketing strategies and bookings. These and other achievements earned him the top prize in this category.