Government has intensified efforts to tackle youth unemployment and promote entrepreneurship through the Students Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Programme (SEED).
Speaking during the launch of the initiative in Accra, Vice President Prof.Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang noted that the programme forms part of broader efforts to build a generation of job creators rather than job seekers.
She also commended the growing impact of the Adwumawura initiative, revealing that government support has already reached more than 3,200 beneficiaries, surpassing the initial target of 2,000 businesses.
The initiative follows closely on the heels of the ‘Adwumawura’ programme, which had already sparked interest across the country. That earlier effort drew thousands of applications, revealing a powerful truth: Ghana’s youth are ready—ready to create, to innovate, and to take risks, if only given the right support.
SEED was designed to meet that need head-on.
Instead of leaving students to struggle alone with raw ideas, the programme will guide them by offering practical training, mentorship from experienced professionals, access to funding, and structured business development support. It aims to bridge the gap between imagination and execution, between ambition and opportunity.
Among the dignitaries present were key government officials, including the Vice President, ministers, and leaders in entrepreneurship development. However, the real stars of the day were the students—the first cohort who will carry the vision forward.
The Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, praised the collaboration that made the programme possible and challenged the students to seize the moment. She emphasized that this is proof of what the country can achieve when it deliberately invests in its young people—not just as job seekers, but as job creators.
“This event shows what Ghana can achieve by deliberately nurturing young people to seek opportunities and also create for themselves and for others,” she said.
“Adwumawura attracted numerous applications when it opened, demonstrating the readiness of Ghana’s youth to innovate and take risks.”
According to her, government has supported over 3,200 businesses and trained more than 10,800 young Ghanaians, surpassing initial expectations.
Across the country, thousands of young Ghanaians have already been trained and supported through previous initiatives, with many businesses emerging against the odds. While those successes are encouraging, SEED aims to go even further—starting earlier, right at the student level—and building entrepreneurship into the foundation of education.
Behind the scenes, the programme will be driven through partnerships between national institutions and student bodies, ensuring it reaches campuses nationwide. Innovation hubs will become spaces where ideas can grow, evolve, and eventually transform into sustainable ventures.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of NEIP, Eric Adjei Esq., said SEED represents a strategic shift in Ghana’s approach to youth entrepreneurship development. He explained that the initiative is designed to ensure entrepreneurship begins earlier—particularly at the student level—and is pursued with greater intention and structure.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
