Winners of AmaCares ‘Start-up Fund’ competition get GHc55k funding

Three young Ghanaian entrepreneurs will receive funding in the form of equipment for their business ideas after emerging winners in the AmaCares start-up fund competition.

Logochura Sheila gets equipment worth GH¢30,000 for being the overall winner while Ernest Kwayisi and Jennifer Amlade would receive equipment worth GH¢15,000 and GH¢10,000 for placing second and third respectively.

At a ceremony on Monday, September 23, 2019 to unveil them as winners, the trio’s elation at winning the competition was evident on their faces as well as in their acceptance speeches.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity. We are looking forward to getting bigger support. This wasn’t my first competition; I was not selected in all others. I always placed second. I want to entreat all of us to be dream chasers,” Logochura Sheila said.

While appreciating his team and AmaCares for the support, Ernest Kwayisi indicated that the support would help cause a positive change in the society.

“We want to assure you we will work hand-in-hand to create impact,” he indicated.

The narrative was the same for Jennifer Amlade, as she mentioned it is a dream come true.

The start-up fund is aimed at financing the business ideas of young entrepreneurs. In all, 50 entries were received. These ideas and their respective owners were vetted before the final three were chosen.

The three would also receive training and mentorship on how to sustain their businesses while enjoying other forms of support from organisers.

The Executive President of the Osei-Kusi Foundation (OKF), Dr. Kofi Osei-Kusi, who was the special guest, tasked the youth to be entrepreneurs instead of relying on government for job creation.

The competition was supported by Dream Blazers Academy, an entity which exists to improve the effectiveness of the African BME community sector in UK by providing networking and skill sharing events to improve their quality of life.

It extends similar services to other African countries by providing entrepreneurship support, training and mentorship.

Meanwhile, Benedicta Ama Batcho, founder of AmaCares, has called on all to help fight child sexual abuse. She pointed out that child sexual abuse can be tackled if the society’s perception about it is changed, hence her decision to raise awareness.