The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has pledged the Assembly’s continued support for young innovators, especially women and persons with disabilities, working to tackle local challenges through creativity and entrepreneurship.
According to him supporting grassroots innovators was not just a moral imperative but a strategic one, especially in a city grappling with youth unemployment, climate threats, and the need for inclusive economic growth.
The Mayor made this known on Friday during the Greater Accra Young Innovators Fair, organised by Impact Sync under the UNDP Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme, where more than 25 emerging innovators showcased solutions in agritech, clean energy, accessible technology, sustainable fashion, and waste management.
“The government believes in the power of young people to transform Accra through creative and practical solutions. This Assembly will continue to open its doors and platforms to support women, persons with disabilities, and all youth pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our communities, ” he said.
The Mayor, in a speech read on his behalf by his executive secretary Mr Alfred Frimpong, emphasised the Assembly’s vision for equitable development, adding that inclusive innovation was not about charity, but building a future that depends on the creativity and perspectives of all, regardless of gender or ability,” he said.
Mayor Allotey assured young innovators and participants that the AMA would continue to support platforms that enable innovation to thrive at the grassroots.
Yaw Tweneboah Kodua Odoom, Project Manager at Impact Sync, commended the Assembly for embracing the programme’s vision of grassroots impact.
“When we engaged the AMA about this initiative, they didn’t just listen, they welcomed us and gave young innovators a space to be seen and heard,” he noted.
Mr. Jude Kwegyir Aggrey, a representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, explained that the YAI Programme was designed to reach those often excluded from innovation ecosystems.
“We are here to support young women, persons with disabilities, and rural youth. This event is more than an exhibition, it is a testament to what happens when talent is met with opportunity,” he said.
The fair featured inspiring showcases from innovators such as Henry Senyegbe Agbemabiese, creator of Smart VI a wearable assistive device for the visually impaired; Zuleiha Kassim, a Person living With Disability (PWD) through her innovativeness, had transformed waste materials into eco-jewellery under her company, Kazu’s Ventures, and the Waste Transformer Team, who developed a system to convert biodegradable waste into electricity.
Also present were the Resilience and Sustainability Advisor to the Mayor of Accra , Mr Denzel Kwasi Humphreys, Ing. Emmanuel Kotey Ashie, a national expert in renewable energy and TVET education, and Mr. Charles Opare, President of the Greater Accra Regional Federation of Disability.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
