Stakeholders in Ghana’s entrepreneurship ecosystem have been urged to step up efforts in creating greater awareness about available funding opportunities for startups to enhance youth-led innovation and business growth.
Mr. Emmanuel Mumuni, Component Manager at GIZ, said despite numerous interventions by government and development partners, many young entrepreneurs remain unaware of the diverse funding schemes accessible to them.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NextGen Opportunities Forum 2025 in Accra, held under the theme “Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future: One Bold Step,” Mr. Mumuni emphasized that access to finance remains a stumbling block for many promising startups.
“There are more funding opportunities out there than most startups realize. The problem is not just availability but visibility. Startups must also be proactive in seeking these opportunities by reaching out directly to the administrators,” he said.
This year’s edition marked a decade of milestone engagements, building on initiatives such as TEDxLabone, TEDxAccra, and Africa Dialogues, while pushing forward bold conversations on Africa’s youth-driven future.
The forum convened over 40 speakers and panellists, including entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors, policy influencers, creatives, and educators to explore pathways for sustainable youth empowerment.
Mr. King David, Strategic Communications Expert at the African Union Commission, stressed the need for young entrepreneurs to form alliances and build networks that enhance collective growth.
“Many of the challenges facing startups, especially in funding, can be mitigated when young people collaborate, share knowledge, and support each other,” he said.
Mr. Emmanuel Leslie Addae, Founder of TalentsinAfrica and curator of the forum, said the gathering was designed to place young Africans at the centre of shaping solutions to the continent’s most pressing challenges.
“From innovation to migration, from AI to entrepreneurship, we are asking bold questions and putting youth at the heart of the answers,” he said.
According to him, panel discussions explored practical issues such as how African startups can thrive without relying heavily on global venture capital. Other sessions examined whether AI and automation are job creators or job killers, while the debate on legal migration focused on whose opportunities should be prioritized.
The forum, supported by a network of corporate, government, and development partners, reaffirmed the importance of youth-focused platforms in driving Africa’s future growth.
Participants said that while funding opportunities exist, the key lies in raising awareness, building partnerships, and encouraging startups to take initiative in securing support for their ventures.
