In a nation grappling with food insecurity, young Ghanaian entrepreneur Georgina Yaa Kwartemaa Boamah has proposed a revolutionary solution to address the country’s vegetable production challenges.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA) estimated in 2022 that 13 million Ghanaians faced difficulties in meeting their daily food needs, primarily due to the inadequacies of local farming technologies.
Boamah’s VT Grow system offers a glimmer of hope, presenting a vertical farming solution that utilizes a water-based medium and solar energy to boost vegetable yields by up to four times.
Designed for small-scale farmers, VT Grow promises to enhance productivity and efficiency right in the open field.
Boamah’s innovative approach earned her a spot as 9th of the top 10 finalists in the Grand Finale of the Presidential Pitch – Season 5, an event hosted by the Ministry of Finance and the National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP). Her pitch won an investment of GHC80,000.
Competing for a GHC250,000 prize, Boamah aims to use the funds to pilot a five-kilowatt vertical farm.
She envisions this project as a catalyst for generating ample produce, creating green jobs, and addressing the nation’s food security challenges.
The pitch event, held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, allowed emerging leaders to showcase their groundbreaking ideas to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, offering a significant platform for potential transformative contributions to Ghana’s economy.
NEIP’s Presidential Pitch – Season 5 attracted over 300 applicants from diverse sectors including agriculture, technology, and creative arts.
The top 10 finalists were selected through a rigorous process and provided with intensive training to refine their entrepreneurial skills.
Alongside Boamah, other participants presented innovative projects such as health-monitoring smartwatches, sustainable panel boards made from coconut waste, and synthetic wood materials derived from rice husks and plastic waste.
These proposals highlight a commitment to both environmental sustainability and job creation, aligning with broader national and global goals.
The Presidential Pitch for Young Entrepreneurs is a deliberate, systematic, and integrated policy initiative by NEIP to boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. The business competition, a revolution in the history of Ghana.
Ruth Sekyi
