European Union (EU) Representative Timothy Dolan has called for stronger support systems for young entrepreneurs, saying training must be complemented by networks, mentorship, visibility and finance.
Mr Dolan, who is the EU Representative and Team Leader for Economic, Private Sector and Trade, said the International Certificate in Impact Entrepreneurship (ICIE) Programme had demonstrated the importance of creating strong partnerships to provide young entrepreneurs with the support they need beyond training.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the ICIE Programme in Accra on Thursday, August 20, 2026, he said entrepreneurship could not thrive in isolation from the wider economy.
“If there is one word that captures the success of this programme is partnership. Partnership between universities, and the private sector, because entrepreneurship cannot thrive in isolation from the real economy,” he said.
Mr Dolan said the programme had also demonstrated the value of collaboration among development partners, particularly through the partnership between the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the E4Impact Foundation, with support from the Italian Cooperation.
According to him, such partnerships were important in creating synergies around youth skills development while ensuring that entrepreneurs received support beyond classroom training.
“Partnership for young entrepreneurs who need not only training but also mentorship, network, visibility, finance and trust,” Mr Dolan added.
He said the combination of these forms of support was essential to helping young entrepreneurs translate their skills and ideas into viable and sustainable businesses.
Mr Dolan said the impact of the ICIE Programme should therefore not be measured solely by the certificates presented to the graduates, but also by the partnerships, opportunities and networks created through the initiative.
“The real value of the programme lies not only in the certificates awarded today, but in the partnerships it has helped create and the opportunities it is opening for the future,” he said.
The first cohort comprised 16 entrepreneurs who completed the ICIE Programme, which was designed to equip young business owners with practical entrepreneurship skills, business coaching, mentorship and investor-readiness support.
The programme was delivered under the EU–Ghana Pact for Skills Project: Support Tertiary Education for Sustainability Employability – Entrepreneurship Stream, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNCDF in partnership with the E4Impact Foundation.
The participants were drawn from four universities — Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), Ho Technical University (HTU), Takoradi Technical University (TTU) and the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS).
The programme ran from February to May and focused on strengthening the capacity of participating entrepreneurs to develop viable businesses and enhance their readiness for investment and growth.
The graduation ceremony was held at the E4Impact Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at UPSA Amartey Towers in Accra.
It brought together the graduates, lecturers, business coaches, development partners and other stakeholders in Ghana’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
