By Paul Mamattah
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scarecrow Technologies, Mary Aboagye, has won the 4th edition of the Israeli Green Innovation competition, IGIC, awards at the 10th Ghana Garden and Flower show in Accra organised by the Israeli Embassy, in collaboration with Stratcomm Africa.
The IGIC scheme was introduced at the Ghana Garden and Flower Show, to honour individuals and organisations that came up with innovative ideas related to the growth of the floriculture industry in Ghana.
The IGIC, was aimed at supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (13) which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its inputs.
The competition also seeks to encourage young people in Ghana to be innovative and also participate meaningfully in agriculture for job creation and income generation.
The six nominees were shortlisted after a rigorous selection process to contest for the topmost award package, which included, a trip to Israel to participate in industry-related meetings, excursions, and conferences to learn best practices, network, and seek potential investors to expand their business.
The judges for the competition were made up of a panel of seven experienced persons in diverse fields among which were ; Madam Esther Cobbah, Chief Executive Officer of Stratcomm Africa, Felix Baidoo, Sustainability and Responsibility Manager of Diageo Ghana, Godfred Odamttem-Sowah, Head of Agriculture Team Master Card Foundation, Kobby Awuah, Owner and Operator of Burger King and Pick Burry, Madam Shlomit Sufa, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as well as Eli Abramovich, an Israeli businessman in Ghana.
In her remarks, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Shlomit Sufa, congratulated and appreciate the Board and Directors of the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement as well as the management of Stratcomm Africa for ten years of successfully promoting and deepening the garden and flower culture in Ghana.
According to her, she was impressed by the zeal to create awareness about the need for a greener, cleaner, healthier, wealthier, and more beautiful Ghana that sits within the United Nations Sustainable Goals.
“As an embassy, we share in this drive and desire of the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement, hence, our decision to support the movement with the organization of the Israeli Green Innovation Competition.
It has indeed been four years of amazing partnership and we are very happy to continue this initiative to stimulate creativity and innovative solutions from the youth to solve some of the agricultural and environmental challenges in Ghana”. She added.
Commenting on the IGIC, Madam Shlomit Sufa stated that after weeks of search and deliberations, they are happy with their expert decision on the final six for the 4th edition of the competition adding that they received over 80 entries on various solutions and innovative ideas saying; all entries were very competitive and good.
She disclosed that the overall winner will receive a fully paid trip to Israel to participate in industry-related meetings, excursions, and conferences to learn best practices, network, and seek potential investors to expand his or her existing business.
Madam Shlomit Sufa reiterated that the winner and other participants of the competition will also have the opportunity to be enlisted on the Embassy’s Startup Database and participate in training opportunities that will enhance their prototype or ideas.
All six participants received a certificate of participation also the winner, first and second runners-up received a plaque of recognition. Again the first and second runners-up will receive a three months business mentorship by Mr. Eli Abramovich who is an Israeli businessman and business executive.
The six contestants for the fourth edition of the Israeli Green Innovation Competition were, Mary Aboagye of Scarecrow Technologies, Korkor Quarcoo of Waste Advantage, and Cletus Baalongbuoro of Ponaa Briquettes.
The rest were; Maame Afia Darkwaah of Kaleidoscope, Michael Olusanya of Greenway International Foundation, and Emmanuel Brazy Mensah of FarmMech.
