The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Eric Adjei is seeking and gradually poised to significantly enhance Ghana’s entrepreneurial landscape with the broader mission to foster job creation and economic growth through entrepreneurship.
This was noticed after the CEO in a Facebook indicated his readiness to partner Ghanaian individuals with the comprehensive strategy to reduce youth unemployment and stimulate economic development.
The individuals made known for the start are Malfred Kwame Kudu – a Kumasi mobile phone repairer and tycoon in all kinds of repairs, and another lady by name Pamela Ella, a seamstress doing so well in her business field.
“Good morning, brother. I have received multiple inquiries about the NEIP, which focuses on nurturing young talent eager to make contributions to the nation’s progress. We will do our utmost to support our generation in developing innovative ideas to realize the Ghana we all dream of together. Additionally, we will look for the young man and help him with the Adwumawura project, which is yet to be launched by the President of the Republic of Ghana” Eric post on the Kumasi based phone repairer reads.
The post about the seamstress also reads, “Pamela Ella, please come to the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme-NEIP office on Tuesday. I will personally contribute one to support your operations. After the launch of Adwumawura, we will certainly be helping many young Ghanaians.”
Eric Adjei’s leadership marks a renewed focus on creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs, aiming to reduce unemployment and drive economic growth. By providing targeted support and resources, NEIP seeks to empower the youth, fostering a culture of self-reliance and innovation across the nation.
The Adwumawura Programme, he explained in a separate interview would support 10,000 young Ghanaians aged 18 to 35 in launching and growing their businesses when implementation commences.
The Adwumawura Programme is a flagship policy of H.E. John Dramani Mahama’s government to train and support youth-led businesses across the country with entrepreneurial skills, access to funding, market and business advisory services annually.
He further stated that, the initiative technical committee responsibilities, include identifying viable start-ups, addressing regulatory challenges, and ensuring businesses under the program align with the 24-hour economy policy.
However, in a separate engagement, the Deputy NEIP CEO Joan Selasie Ahiawordor as part of NEIP’s collaborative efforts to promote and nurture entrepreneurs and Startups, led a team from NEIP to join the MP for Madina constituency, Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu to matriculate the 2025 Madina Job Center Vocational Apprenticeship cohort weeks ago.
She used the opportunity to express the readiness of NEIP to build the necessary synergies with other stakeholders to foster entrepreneurship and innovation to create jobs for the youth of Ghana.
Again, she used the opportunity to call on the youth to be ready to enroll and take advantage of the Adwumawura Programme which will be launched very soon.
About NEIP
The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) is a comprehensive initiative by the Ghanaian government designed to foster entrepreneurship and spur economic growth by supporting startups and small businesses.
Here’s a deeper look into various aspects of the programme: 1. Objective and Vision: The NEIP’s primary objective is to create a robust ecosystem for entrepreneurship that supports start-ups and small businesses, driving them towards success and sustainability.
This is part of a broader vision to consolidate Ghana’s middle-income status by building an industry-driven economy that can provide sustainable and decent jobs (Ministry of Business Development Ghana).
- Key Initiatives Presidential Business Support Programme: This initiative offers business development support to entrepreneurs. It includes training, funding, and mentorship to help businesses scale and become competitive both locally and internationally (NEIP Ghana). Greenhouse Initiative: Focused on agriculture, this project involves the largest greenhouse estate in West Africa, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and sustainability (NEIP Ghana).
Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme (HAGP): Targets the enhancement of entrepreneurship and innovation hubs by providing grants of up to $200,000. This support helps hubs elevate the quality of their services to international standards and assists in their efforts to develop the private enterprise ecosystem (NEIP Ghana) (The Business & Financial Times).
- Sector Focus: The NEIP places a significant emphasis on non-resource-based sectors to diversify Ghana’s economy away from traditional resource dependencies. This includes technology, agriculture, and manufacturing. The programme supports initiatives like smart farming and agro-processing under its “Youth in Innovative Agriculture Support” to increase productivity and sustainability in agriculture.
- Inclusion and Support: The programme encourages the participation of diverse groups including women, youth, and persons with disabilities. It aims to leverage the untapped potential within these demographics to fuel entrepreneurial ventures and innovation (The Business & Financial Times). 5. Monitoring and Impact To ensure the effectiveness of its initiatives, NEIP undertakes rigorous monitoring and evaluation. This involves tracking the progress of funded projects and assessing their impact on the economy and job creation. This continuous assessment helps in refining the programmes and ensuring that the funds are used effectively to achieve the intended outcomes. The NEIP serves as a critical tool in Ghana’s strategy to nurture an entrepreneurial culture, enhance business capabilities, and stimulate economic development.
