The Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) has opened the fifth edition of the National Young Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo and Awards (YES2025) in Tamale.
It is to promote stronger policy coordination and institutional reforms in support of youth-led enterprises in the country.
The event, held on the theme: “Resetting Ghana: The Role of Youth Entrepreneurship in National Renewal”, brought together young entrepreneurs, policymakers, development partners, traditional leaders, and private sector actors to deliberate on practical measures to enhance youth innovation and job creation.
YES2025 features exhibitions, masterclasses, and networking sessions and would be climaxed with an awards ceremony to honour outstanding young entrepreneurs making an impact across various sectors of the economy.
Mr Sherif Ghali, Chief Executive Officer of the GCYE and President of the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), speaking during the event, said it was not merely a ceremonial gathering, but a bold convening of ideas and institutions committed to “rethinking the architecture of youth entrepreneurship in Ghana.”
He said Ghana’s true measure of progress in youth empowerment would not be in the number of grants disbursed or events organized, but in “the number of globally competitive Ghanaian youth-led businesses we are able to build, sustain, and scale.”
Mr Ghali announced the introduction of a flagship initiative; the Young Entrepreneurs Pitch, designed to identify, nurture, and elevate 10 of the most promising youth-led businesses in the country.
He said the top three participants would receive targeted business development support and catalytic seed funding to help them expand.
He said, “This is not just a competition. It is a targeted intervention that builds the pipeline for the next generation of African unicorns.”
He also called for the establishment of a National Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Framework to harmonize interventions across agencies such as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, National Youth Authority (NYA), Ghana Enterprises Agency and the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre.
Mr Ghali appealed to the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency to reinstate and scale up the five per cent District Assemblies Common Fund allocation to the NYA, saying the Authority “must be resourced, not just recognized.”
He commended development partners including GIZ Ghana, the 2SCALE Programme, and the FILMA Project for their consistent investment in youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, described the summit as a vital platform showcasing the creativity and resilience of Ghanaian youth.
He said the event’s theme aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s youth-centred development vision, reflected in initiatives such as the Adwumawura Programme, National Apprenticeship Programme, and the Regional Industrialisation Agenda, aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for young people.
He urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, development partners, and private sector actors to support the GCYE’s efforts to translate national policies into meaningful local impact.
Professor Yakubu Nantogmah, Paramount Chief of the Zugu Traditional Area, who represented the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, encouraged the youth to stay true to their dreams and pursue their vision with honesty and hard work, describing those virtues as the foundation for lasting success.
