The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, has officially inaugurated the Grant Management Committee for the Adwumawura Programme, marking a critical step in the government’s flagship youth entrepreneurship initiative.

The inauguration underscores the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and fairness in the management of public resources under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).

The committee comprises representatives from industry, academia, financial institutions, development partners, government agencies, and the private sector, including the University of Ghana Business School Innovation Centre, Ministry of Finance, ABSA Bank, Venture Capital Trust Fund, British Council, National Youth Authority, Ghana Youth Federation, and MASLOC, among others.

In his remarks, the Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to youth empowerment, job creation, and sustainable entrepreneurship. He emphasised that the Adwumawura Programme goes beyond funding, aiming to build resilient businesses capable of driving inclusive national development and urged the committee to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, and diligence in executing their duties.

The CEO of NEIP, Eric Adjei Esq., highlighted the need for the committee to be intentional about inclusiveness, equity, impact, and innovation in selecting at least 2,000 viable businesses for support under the programme. Meanwhile, the Board Chairman pledged full support for the committee and urged members to execute their mandate transparently and non-partisanly to build trust in the selection process.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Prof. George Acheampong of the University of Ghana Business School expressed gratitude to the Minister and NEIP for the opportunity to serve, assuring that the committee is ready to discharge its duties with integrity and fairness.

Adwumawura Programme: Ambitious, Inclusive, Impact‑Driven

The Adwumawura Programme is a flagship initiative implemented under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment to empower young Ghanaians aged 18 to 35 by helping them launch and grow their own businesses. The programme is designed to support the creation, mentorship, and growth of at least 10,000 youth‑led enterprises annually as part of efforts to address youth unemployment and stimulate economic development.

Fully funded under the 2025 National Budget and implemented through NEIP, the initiative provides comprehensive support that includes business development training, access to funding, mentorship, and startup kits, along with guidance in planning, financial management, marketing, and sustainability strategies. The programme has attracted overwhelming interest, receiving over 120,000 applications from young entrepreneurs across Ghana.

To ensure the quality and impact of the support, selection criteria for beneficiaries are comprehensive, focusing on job creation potential, innovation, scalability, sustainability, and proposal quality. NEIP has partnered with numerous enterprise hubs and training institutions nationwide to provide practical training and mentorship to selected participants, helping them develop the skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive economy.

The inauguration of the Grant Management Committee marks a key step in rolling out the Adwumawura Programme and reinforces the government’s broader vision of harnessing the potential of Ghanaian youth to drive entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.