By Patrick Biddah
The 2023 edition of the Presidential Pitch contest for the Ghanaian youth under the National Entrepreneurial and Innovation Programme ( NEIP) has been launched with a creation of new business categories.
This new business categories, according to NEIP, is to create further opportunities for applicants to earn double at different levels of the contest.
For example, a contestant who wins Ghc100, 000 out of his category, could also win additional Ghc100,000, when the individual qualifies to be placed in the final overall shortlist and comes out as a winner .
Speaking at the launch in Accra on June 30, 2023, the deputy Chief Executive Officer of NEIP, Ms. Abigail Swad Laryea, said the end game of the launch which is the Season 4, is to cater for the needs of entrepreneurs all over the country through the leadership policies and initiatives by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“ One of which is the NEIP whose primary objective is to provide training, business development services, capacity building, mentoring, funding, and access to market linkages to all our beneficiaries to enable them to grow and become successful”, she pointed out.
Under the theme:” Building A Sustainable Entrepreneurial Nation , The Role Of Our Future “, the launch showcased past winners who came to tell their stories and how amazing their innovated business products are doing.
For example, Vanessa Aisha Limman, who was part of the maiden presidential pitch contestants has grown from selling her wheat based products in 34 supermarkets in Ghana and looking at expanding to the sub region.
In her narrative, as an unemployed graduate, she started with her Ghc500 savings which was not doing much until she applied to the Presidential Pitch contest and won.
In view of that , the deputy CEO, indicated that NEIP has become a solution to the national youth unemployment menace and a special purpose vehicle designed by his Excellency the president to lead the charge in creating jobs among the youth .
“ The government is in the process of building an ENTREPRENEURIAL STATE as part of the Ghana Beyond Aid blueprint. To move this vision closer to reality, it has become necessary for the focus to be on entrepreneurship and innovation as that is the direction the whole world is moving towards.” , she noted.
The new changes in the season 4 is designed in the methodology which to a large extent is to set the tone for achieving the Entrepreneurial State.
This methodology, however, are the need to be focusing on core business sectors, according to Ms. Swad Laryea.
“ So this year, we are makings a few changes to the methodology of the competition. First, we will be focusing on the following core business sectors: agriculture ,fintech and technology, manufacturing and processing, tourism and the creative arts, TVET, and any other economically viable area”, she intimated.
This year’s applications , she emphasized will be narrowed down to 25 instead of the normal 20 .
Aside the changes in the methodology, the other change which the deputy CEO revealed is the prize package.
“The award packages for this year’s competition have also been increased. Government is earmarking 2.5 million Ghc for the top 25 contestant”, she revealed.
On eligibility , she said the contest is opened to all Ghanaians between 18 and 40 years who are to go to the website www.neip.gov.gh
The application portal is open for two weeks. June 30 – July 14, 11:59pm.
The final is expected to take place on July 26, 2023 at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel.
