Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEIP, Eric Adjei
The Adwumawura Programme, launched on Monday, April 28, 2025, will be spearheaded by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), operating under the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.
The initiative aims to create sustainable jobs and provide better livelihoods for young people, according to Eric Adjei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEIP.
Adjei explained that young entrepreneurs would receive comprehensive support from NEIP, including funding, coaching, mentorship, and other relevant assistance.
Speaking at the launch event held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in the Ashanti Region, Adjei said:
“The Adwumawura Programme is more than a policy. It is a commitment—a lifeline to the countless young men and women who rise every morning with big dreams but are often met with closed doors. Under the leadership of President Mahama, every youth will have the opportunity to soar.”
He added:
“Thousands of young businesses, started by daring and determined Ghanaians, have been nurtured and supported—living testimonies that when government believes in its youth, magic happens.
We need your collaboration. We need your resources. We need your faith—because together, we can unleash a movement that will define Ghana’s economic future for decades to come. The future is entrepreneurship. The future is innovation. The future is now.”
Adjei described the initiative as “the rebirth of a dream” originally seeded by President John Dramani Mahama during his previous administration.
The programme aims to create, monitor, and mentor at least 10,000 businesses annually, with a special focus on Ghanaians aged 18 to 35. NEIP will collaborate with development partners, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, and the youth to deliver the initiative effectively.
Highlighting the impact of earlier efforts, Adjei referenced the 2014 Youth Enterprise Support Fund—a precursor to NEIP—which supported thousands of start-ups across the country.
Beyond the Adwumawura Programme, NEIP plans to introduce several complementary initiatives, including:
The Presidential Innovation Challenge – Promoting STEM and green entrepreneurship.
The Vice-Presidential Empowerment Programme – Targeting women and persons with disabilities.
The Student Enterprise Initiative
Youth in Innovative Agriculture Projects
The Presidential School Garden Initiative
The Street to Entrepreneurship Project – Focused on rehabilitating vulnerable youth.
Adjei emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with development partners and the private sector, stressing that the programme’s success will depend on collective action.
The launch was attended by several dignitaries, including the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia; the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo; the Municipal Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori Agyemang; and NEIP CEO Eric Adjei.
The event was chaired by Otumfuo’s Benkumhene, Odeneho Okyere Ntrama, on behalf of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
About the Adwumawura Programme
The Adwumawura Programme is a fulfillment of the NDC’s campaign promise to prioritize youth empowerment and job creation. It aims to support the development of young businesses through training, mentorship, and financial assistance.
In its first phase, the programme will support the top 2,000 viable business proposals with:
Business Development Training: Equipping young entrepreneurs with essential business skills.
Mentorship: Pairing entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders.
Access to Start-up Capital: Providing funding to turn business ideas into reality.
Marketing and Networking: Creating platforms for entrepreneurs to showcase products and connect with potential partners.
The programme is expected to significantly impact Ghana’s economy by creating jobs, stimulating innovation, and promoting entrepreneurship among the youth.
AM/KA
Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s tour of Odweanoma Paragliding Field below: