Entrepreneurs are key to driving sustainable economic growth, as well as creating job opportunities. Such is the bold ambition of the Orange Corners programme.
This is an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in collaboration with MDF West Africa, the Ghana Innovation Hub and private sector partners Fidelity Bank, Emergent Payments, Friesland Campina, Vivo Energy Ghana and Meridian Port Services (MPS).
A total of 343 entrepreneurs spread across five regions in Ghana have been selected as part of the seventh cohort for the Orange Corners (OC) Ghana Acceleration Programme.
After the nationwide call-out for applications in November 2022, some 431 applications were received and screened for slots in the programme. For the seventh cohort, which officially began on January 24, 2023, 166 entrepreneurs will be trained in Accra; 59 in Kumasi; 41 in Tamale; 36 in Ho; and 41 in Takoradi.
The ambitious entrepreneurs will be equipped with necessary knowledge, skills and access to markets and capital. The Orange Corners Ghana programme is a 6-month acceleration programme with 10 workshop days, several (online) masterclasses and individual coaching sessions. OC Ghana also serves as a bridge between these innovative entrepreneurs and the private sector, while facilitating access to finance through our Orange Corners Innovation Fund. This offers a great benefit to all partners involved.
Moreover, Orange Corners Ghana is proud to announce that the programme has received additional private sector support from De Heus Koudijs and Cargill, raising the institutional support from five to seven companies.
About the new partners
De Heus Koudijs: As a family-owned, 4th generation business in animal nutrition, De Heus Koudijs provides a growing contribution toward local, sustainable production of safe and healthy food by advancing their primary customers – producers of meat, fish, milk and eggs.
In 2020, a local state-of-the-art feed factory was opened in Tema (Ghana) to help produce complete layer, broiler and aqua feeds. This factory serves the needs of farmers in Ghana through a complete range of high-quality, locally-produced animal feeds. ‘Making the difference in farmers’ lives’ is the slogan for De Heus Koudijs in Ghana. This means that Koudijs is also supporting and strongly involved in sourcing and growing input raw materials for feed production in Ghana.
Cargill Ghana: Cargill has been sourcing cocoa from Ghana for over 40 years, and in 2008 opened its state-of-the-art cocoa processing facility in Tema where it produces cocoa powder and engages in cocoa-butter production. Today, the company has around 550 permanent and temporary employees processing cocoa products to service food and confectionary customers, locally and around the world.
In 2016, Cargill added a licenced buying company (LBC) to its Ghanaian footprint. The LBC operations offer employment to 320 permanent and temporary staff, and brings innovative ways of trading with our farmers – placing emphasis on our sustainability and traceability efforts.
About the Programme
With a global mission of building entrepreneurial ecosystems for the youth, Orange Corners is a global initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, which supports young entrepreneurs across 19 hubs in 15 countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This support contributes to a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous society through training, mentorship, networking, funding and facilities to start and grow their businesses.
The Netherlands supports innovative solutions to local challenges that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with various stakeholders to support and strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems. Since 2015, OC global has trained about 1,800 entrepreneurs.
