The 2026 Idea Challenge Pitch and media launch was held last Saturday at the Pentecost University in Accra.

It brought together innovators, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to promote creative ideas and solutions aimed at addressing societal challenges.

The initiative, organised by the Visionary Organisation Development and Entrepreneurial Club (VODEC) and National Emerging Leaders Economic Forum (NELEF) provided a platform for participants to showcase their ideas and highlight how innovation and creativity could be transformed into practical solutions.

The programme also sought to encourage young people to develop ideas that could contribute to national development and create opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Held on the theme: ‘building Africa’s future, emerging leaders driving inclusive growth and regional transformation,’ the event sought to serve as a strategic platform to transition youth talent from mere concepts into investable enterprises.

During the pitch session, shortlisted entrepreneurs presented viable business ideas which spanned critical sectors, including climate-smart agribusiness, sustainable waste management, digital technology, and assistive tech for persons with disabilities.

A member of the judging panel, Mr Blessed Amonoo, an Investment Analyst at the Ghana Amalgamated Trust Plc., praised the technical depth of the presentations.

“We are looking for scalability, market readiness, and projects that directly answer local problems,“ Mr Amonoo noted during the evaluation.

“The level of innovation displayed here proves that African youth possesses the answers to the continent’s economic riddles, provided they receive the right structural refinement.”

Finalists selected from this rigorous process will be officially announced and paired with corporate mentors at the flagship forum in September.

Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive of VODEC Africa, Mr. Daniel Asomani, urged African governments and financial institutions to systematically secure capital for youth-led startups.

Mr Asomani emphasised that Africa’s persistent brain drain can only be reversed if young minds find fertile ground to scale their enterprises locally.

“Our brilliant minds are leaving the shores of Africa not because they want to, but because the local ecosystem suffocates their dreams.”

“The Idea Challenge is our contribution to keeping this talent home but VODEC cannot do it alone. We need policy interventions, tax incentives for startups, and deliberate venture funding to turn these ideas into multi-million-dollarcorporations,” Mr Asomani stated.

By Desmond Aidoo

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Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has urged the citizenry to develop a strong culture of reading, which she described as a powerful instrument for national transformation. 

Madam Gomashie made the call in a speech read on her behalf at the 23rd Ghana International Book Fair that ended in Accra, last Sunday.

It was themed: ‘Transforming Ghana’s Future Through Books’ 

She noted that for children and young people in particular, developing a strong reading culture was one of the most important investments the country could make for its future. 

“Reading is not merely an academic exercise; it is a powerful instrument for national transformation. It broadens our minds, strengthens our capacity to think critically, exposes us to new ideas and enables us to understand the experiences of other people and societies,” the Minister stated. 

She cited South Korea’s development journey and the Korean War, where it embarked on an ambitious national development programme through the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement), which promoted diligence, self-help, cooperation and continuous learning at the community level. 

Madam Gomashie said Korea’s remarkable progress was supported by a wider culture that valued education, knowledge acquisition and reading. 

The Minister called for deliberate efforts to make reading fashionable and accessible, especially for children and young people, encouraging them to read beyond textbooks and explore Ghanaian literature, African literature, science, history, biographies, technology and creative arts. 

Mr Edward Yaw Udzu, Chairman, Ghana International Book Fair, said the Fair had become an important platform for publishers, authors, booksellers, librarians, educators, printers and readers to exchange ideas and celebrate the written word. 

He said the industry was also being reshaped by digital technology, Artificial Intelligence, electronic publishing and audiobooks, urging stakeholders to embrace innovation while preserving the values that made books meaningful. 

Mr Udzu mentioned high cost of production, limited financing, piracy, inadequate distribution and declining reading habits as some of the industry’ s challenges, which required coordinated national attention and collective action. 

He urged publishers to invest in quality Ghanaian content, writers to tell Ghanaian stories boldly, and parents to make books part of children’s everyday life. 

The Chairman encouraged teachers, educationists and librarians to continue to nurture the reading culture and help young people discover the power of knowledge and for booksellers to explore innovative ways to reach new audiences. –GNA

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