Recycle Up! Ghana has called for increased government and corporate funding to expand green entrepreneurship opportunities. Gertrude Mawuena Goh, Director of Operations at Recycle Up! Ghana, stated that inadequate funding remains a major obstacle. This lack of support prevents the creation of more opportunities for young people in Ghana's circular economy.
Ms. Goh made this appeal at the RUG Incubation Programme Cohort 6 Demo Day. The event took place at the KIC Centre of Excellence in Ejisu. The theme for the day was “Empowering Innovation for Sustainable Business Growth.” The organization seeks government networks and financial backing to build youth capacity. Previous engagements, like the NEIP Adwumawura program, provided some support. More such direct initiatives would be highly beneficial for their work.
This call for support comes as Ghana faces significant waste management challenges. The country's economic development often generates increased waste, particularly plastic. This waste frequently chokes drains and contributes to environmental degradation. Expanding green entrepreneurship can create jobs and address these environmental issues simultaneously. The circular economy model, which emphasizes reducing, reusing, and recycling, aligns with Ghana's broader sustainability goals. Government support for these ventures can also attract foreign investment in green technologies.
Gertrude Mawuena Goh highlighted the critical need for financial backing. She stated, “We want the government to provide us with the network and also the funding support to enable us to build more capacities of the youths in the secular economy space.” This statement underscores the dual requirement for both connections and capital. The RUG Incubation Programme has been running since 2019. It targets young people aged 18 to 35. These are early-stage social entrepreneurs developing solutions in waste management and green business.
Increased funding would allow Recycle Up! Ghana to expand its incubation program nationwide. It would also strengthen its waste education campaigns. Such expansion could lead to more innovative startups addressing Ghana's waste crisis. Decision-makers in government and corporate sectors will need to consider these appeals. Their response will impact the growth trajectory of Ghana's green economy. Investors will also watch for policy changes that support these emerging businesses.
The RUG Incubation Programme provides comprehensive training. Participants learn financial management, fundraising, and investor pitching. They also receive instruction in product validation, business development, and legal issues. Previous cohorts have received prototype funding. They also gained opportunities to pitch their businesses to investors. This holistic approach prepares young entrepreneurs for real-world challenges.
Recycle Up! Ghana's work extends beyond incubation. It includes environmental awareness and behavior-change programs. Ms. Goh noted that RUG has impacted over 35,000 people through its various interventions. The organization visits basic and senior high schools. They establish environmental school clubs. These clubs teach students about waste management, focusing on plastic waste. They empower schools to segregate plastic waste. This segregation feeds into the recycling value chain. RUG has also launched a waste management handbook for these campaigns.
The Cohort 6 Demo Day showcased seven startups and 13 entrepreneurs. These businesses pitched their products to investors and industry stakeholders. Their innovations convert waste and agricultural by-products into new goods. Products ranged from furniture and cosmetics to animal feed and reusable sanitary items. This demonstrates the diverse potential within the circular economy.
Ecofurn emerged as the overall winner, receiving GHS 7,000. Ecofurn repurposes rice husks, groundnut husks, and plastic waste. They create durable, insect-resistant, and eco-friendly school desks. Ellora Cosmetics placed second, securing GHS 5,000. They produce rice shampoo bars, conditioners, and face and body scrubs from waste rice. Jostimo, which produces pelletized animal feed from agricultural waste, placed third. They received GHS 3,000 for their efforts.
Theodora Dankwah, co-founder of Ellora Cosmetics, highlighted the program's value. She stated it helped them move beyond product creation to understanding customers. Ms. Dankwah appealed to the government for a simplified support package. This package would assist startups with regulatory requirements, like FDA certification. Such measures would make it easier for new businesses to comply and grow. This support is crucial for fostering a vibrant green entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ghana.