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The names behind some Ghanaian innovative tech startups
Last week, we focused on young tech prodigy who is helping people appreciate the essence and potential of emerging technologies.
As a sequel to last week’s issue, we stay in the technology space but, this time, the attention is on some Ghanaian startups who have applied innovative technology and built businesses to solve problems in some specific areas. Here is a summary of the six personalities you may or may not know.
Mr. Mathias Charles Yabe
Mathias is the co-founder of AkoFresh, a Green Cold Chain Enterprise that offers farmers practical and affordable preservation services to end post-harvest losses.
He founded the agritech startup in 2018 when a volunteer trip exposed him to the issue of post-harvest losses affecting the people of Akumadan in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region.
As a young innovator who grew up in a small farming village, this problem inspired him to design a solar-powered cold storage preservation technology that extends the shelf life of perishable crops from five days to 21 days. The off-grid cold store is available to smallholder farmers as a service where they (farmers) pay a meagre daily or weekly subscription fee.
This innovation has earned him recognition including eight awards for participating in several accelerator programmes.
Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker
Constance Swaniker is a renowned Ghanaian sculptor making strides in the arts and craft sector with global recognition. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Sculpture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi in 1999.
After graduating from KNUST, she established Accents and Art Limited. She is the Founder of Design and Technology Institute (DTI). This institution offers students a practical approach to help them hone their talents in a conducive environment surrounded by instructors who are passionate about art and design.
Having spent 18 years in other countries including, The Gambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, the diversity in her experience has been the dominant factor in how she approaches the “arts” and business.
While a university student, Constance worked as an apprentice carpenter for five years in a joinery company but specialised in metal work and sculpture, graduating with honours in sculpture.
She is the recipient of several awards, and her works can be found in a wide range of upscale homes, offices, and diplomatic missions both home and abroad. Her works have been showcased in solo and group exhibitions in Ghana, Nigeria, France, and Germany.
Mr. MacCarthy Mac-Gbathy Abdullai
MacCarthy is the founder of HOPin Academy. He established the Academy in 2013 to curb rural-urban migration in Northern Ghana and reduce youth unemployment. The man who wants to reduce poverty rate drastically believes that entrepreneurship is the solution.
HOPin engages in educational innovation to ensure that entrepreneurship becomes part of the core subjects within Basic Schools in Ghana. It acts as an innovation hub to provide goal-oriented, practice-oriented learning for young people coupled with technology.
The organisation’s programmes cover entrepreneurship, digital communication, Information Technology, video production, and business consultancy.
The founder is an Executive Board Member and a Communications Director of the Ghana Hubs Network, with over 50 network members in 10 regions. He is part of several Boards globally and since 2013, he has overseen 54 startups.
Mr. Maxwell Deladem Xonu
Maxwell is championing eco-friendliness in Ghana. He has built EBAPreneur, a climate-action enterprise that focuses on promoting positive impacts on climate and helping local farmers combat post-harvest losses.
Founded in 2019, EBAPreneur produces briquettes from wastes such as corn husk, cassava and potato peels, and sawdust. The startup fabricates solar driers from locally sourced materials to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses.
The solar driers create a suitable temperature for drying harvested farm produce faster, such as cassava, without any atmospheric disturbance.
Mr.Jonathan Kennedy Sowah
Jonathan is the founder of InovTech STEM Centre. He is a passionate, innovative, and creative young leader with a track record of establishing successful students and teachers with industry-relevant skills in the STEAM field.
His institution provides students with high-quality, industry-relevant, and sought-after skills and experiences, especially in underserved communities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) through Robotics Education.
InovTech leverages Educational Robots, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Embedded Systems for its notable course. The STEAM Centre aims to be a world leader in providing innovative and creative STEAM programmes that inspire, engage and develop citizens for Africa’s social well-being, economic prosperity, and sustainability.
Since its inception, InovTech has impacted over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers across Ghana.
Mr. Andrew Takyi-Appiah
Andrew is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Zeepay, the fastest-growing fintech company. He is an expert in Banking and Mobile Payments with over 15 years of experience in Banking and Business Development.
He has working experience in more than seven markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa. He has been part of vital retail deployments across Africa. His company focuses on improving financial inclusion and making the world a better place to live.
Zeepay connects digital assets such as mobile money wallets, cards, ATMs, bank accounts, and digital tokens to International Money Transfer Operators, Subscriptions, International Airtime, among others.
By Spectator Reporter
The First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, has announced that the government will soon launch a Free Primary Health Care Programme aimed at improving access to healthcare across the country.
She said the initiative, which will be launched by her husband, John Dramani Mahama, will provide free primary healthcare services at facilities such as the Anyima Health Centre.
Mrs. Mahama made the announcement during the commissioning of the newly renovated Anyima Health Centre in Anyima, Brong Ahafo region.
According to her, the programme is expected to increase the use of health services, support early detection of diseases, reduce healthcare costs for families and improve the overall health and productivity of citizens.
“My husband, President John Dramani Mahama, will soon launch the Free Primary Health Care Programme, which will provide free care at facilities like the Anyima Health Centre,” she said.
Handing over the facility to the community, the First Lady urged health workers who will serve at the centre to treat patients with dignity and compassion.
She encouraged them to work towards ensuring zero maternal mortality and zero infant mortality at the facility.
Mrs. Mahama further called on residents of Anyima to take full ownership of the health centre by keeping it in good condition and making good use of its services.
She appealed to traditional leaders in the area to help protect the facility so that it can continue to serve the health needs of the community for many years.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for stronger action to promote gender equity and create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining staff at the Presidency of Ghana to mark International Women’s Day.
The celebration was held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Promoting Equity for Every Woman in the Workplace” and focused on recognising the achievements of women while reflecting on the work needed to ensure equal opportunities.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended warm wishes to women across Ghana and noted that women have always played key roles in the country’s communities and economic activities.
According to her, women in the past served as healers, traders and queen mothers who contributed to leadership and governance in traditional societies.
She explained that Ghana’s cultural history shows that women have long provided knowledge, leadership and innovation to help develop communities.
The Vice President however noted that current disparities require society to examine systems and structures that may have limited opportunities for women.
She stressed that advancing gender equity will require deliberate actions and the mentoring of young women to prepare them for leadership roles.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recognised women whose work takes place in markets, streets and small trading spaces across the country.
According to her, these women form the backbone of local economies and continue to demonstrate resilience despite the difficult conditions they face.
She commended women working at the Presidency for their dedication and leadership and reaffirmed the need to promote respect, fairness and opportunity for every woman.
The Vice President further called on both men and women to work together to break barriers and ensure that women can fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
