Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the mayor of Accra, has promised that the Assembly will continue to assist young innovators who are using creativity and entrepreneurship to address local issues, particularly women and people with disabilities.
He said that helping grassroots entrepreneurs was not only the right thing to do but also a smart move, particularly in a city that is struggling with issues like youth unemployment, climate change, and the need for equitable economic growth.
At the Greater Accra Young Innovators Fair, which Impact Sync organized as part of the UNDP Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Program, the mayor made this announcement on Friday. Over 25 up-and-coming innovators displayed their solutions in the areas of waste management, agritech, clean energy, accessible technology, and sustainable fashion.
“The government believes in the power of young people to transform Accra through creative and practical solutions. This Assembly will continue to open its doors and platforms to support women, persons with disabilities, and all youth pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our communities,” he said.
The Mayor emphasized the Assembly’s vision for equitable development in a speech read on his behalf by his executive secretary, Mr. Alfred Frimpong.
He added that inclusive innovation was not about charity but rather about creating a future that relies on the ideas and creativity of everyone, regardless of gender or ability.
Mayor Allotey told young innovators and participants that the AMA will continue to support platforms that enable innovation to grow at the grassroots.
Impact Sync Project Manager Yaw Tweneboah Kodua Odoom praised the Assembly for adopting the program’s grassroots impact vision.
“When we engaged the AMA about this initiative, they didn’t just listen; they welcomed us and gave young innovators a space to be seen and heard,” he noted.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana representative, Mr. Jude Kwegyir Aggrey, clarified that the YAI Program was created to target those who are frequently left out of innovation ecosystems.
“We are here to support young women, persons with disabilities, and rural youth. This event is more than an exhibition; it is a testament to what happens when talent is met with opportunity,” he said.
Innovative showcases at the fair included the Waste Transformer Team, who created a system to turn biodegradable waste into electricity; Henry Senyegbe Agbemabiese, who created Smart VI, a wearable assistive device for the visually impaired; and Zuleiha Kassim, a Person with a Disability (PWD), who, through her inventiveness, had turned waste materials into eco-jewelry under her company, Kazu’s Ventures.
Mr. Charles Opare, President of the Greater Accra Regional Federation of Disability; Ing. Emmanuel Kotey Ashie, a national expert in renewable energy and TVET education; and Mr. Denzel Kwasi Humphreys, the Mayor of Accra’s Resilience and Sustainability Advisor, were also in attendance.
Source: newsthemegh.com