Over a 100 youth from two rural areas in Ghana’s cocoa belt, completed an Ashesi-led entrepreneurship bootcamp as part of the Next Generation Cocoa Youth Program. The participants, from Bia West and Asunafo North, form the fourth and fifth cohorts of the programme. Launched in 2016, the MASO program is targeted at helping young people in rural cocoa-growing communities find employment opportunities within the cocoa value chain.

Through the program, participants become part of an Agro Academy where they pick up sustainable cocoa farming practices, following which some transition to the entrepreneurship-focused Business Academy, which provides training to expand the cocoa sector and develop thriving service sectors. To date, the Business Academy has trained nearly 400 first-time entrepreneurs whose work has gone on to impact several communities within Ghana’s cocoa-growing areas.

 

“For people living in cocoa-growing areas who may not necessarily be interested in cocoa farming, it is important to help them see how they can still benefit from the industry,” shared Senior Lecturer at Ashesi Dr Sena Agyepong, who leads the Business Academy. “In the end, these businesses help to develop a local economy and also help create sustainable livelihoods for people in the community, ultimately helping to curb rural-urban migration.”

In two brief ceremonies on July 17th and 18th, the entrepreneurs put together public exhibitions showcasing their businesses, spanning agricultural services to catering services to child education.

 

The year-long training program involves coaching, mentoring and incubation for the entrepreneurs and their businesses. With expertise from other successful entrepreneurs, as well as Ashesi’s faculty, the process also allows participants to strengthen their business models, and receive some grant support to kick off their ventures.

 

“Cohort after cohort we have seen more entrepreneurs work harder, and it is always a joy to see them grow their businesses,” shared Dr Agyepong. “Over time we have built better understanding of how to select and engage with participants, and have seen our programme completion rates keep increasing.”

“Joining the academy has helped me better understand how to structure my business,” shared Faustina Agyei, who opened an agro-input shop with four other incubatees. “Now we understand how to do simple accounting, manage our stock and also put in plans to expand the business.”

 

With nearly $2 billion in annual sales, accounting for 8% of Ghana’s GDP and growing global demand, cocoa is Ghana’s most valuable cash crop. Despite the tremendous upside of the industry for the nation’s economy, output in Ghana is on the decline, largely due to the dwindling numbers of workers in the cocoa value chain.

“Most of these people were unemployed within their communities; trying to figure out their next steps or simply migrate to urban areas,” shared Dr Agyepong. “Through working with them in the academy, the progress the entrepreneurs have made has not only helped fill employment gaps but also has helped give them hope; and that goes a long way. Once they develop that hope and believe in themselves it creates a multiplier effect within the communities. Indirectly, they help inspire others.”