President Akufo-Addo in a group photograph with the participants
President Akufo-Addo launched the ‘Africa Innovates’ competition at the presidency in Accra on Thursday.
The competition seeks to identify five persons with ideas that can be funded as a means of supporting the implementation of the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the African continent by the year 2030 as set by the UN.
Speaking at the launch of the competition, President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in the youth of Africa and their ability to change the fortunes of the continent.
He therefore expressed hope that the competition would unearth talents and ideas of five young Africans who would execute their ideas to help in the attainment of the SDGs.
As a man ‘decorated’ with the title ‘Gender Champion’ by the African Union, the President stressed the need for women to be given special attention in the competition because 52 per cent of the world’s population are women and that failure to engage the majority of them would have an adverse effect on the continent as regards the realization of the SDGs.
Organisers of the competition are expected to put the spotlight on innovation for the SDGs and encourage innovations for the attainment of the SDGs in Ghana.
The best innovators would then be elected and given funding up to about $10,000.00 United States Dollars.
It is expected to inspire and engage a group of high-profile personalities as champion ambassadors to join the movement and to support these social innovators through their networks, platforms, communication channels and through funding.
The ‘Africa Innovates’ competition would accept applications for the awards from now till 7th September, 2018.
To be eligible to win, applicants must be citizens of an African country or residents of any African country for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years and must be 18 years of age or older.
In order to apply for the competition, an applicant can visit the website www.africainnovates4sdgs.com.
The award is to be implemented by the non-profit organisation, Reach for Change.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent