Kosmos Innovation Center engages Business Leaders on Strategic Partnerships for Youth Development

The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) in collaboration with Canada-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (CanCham Ghana) and Chamber for Commerce and Industry, France Ghana (CCIFG) hosted a high-level stakeholder engagement meeting, bringing together business leaders to discuss shared value creation through youth entrepreneurship development in Ghana.

The event was organised under the theme: “Strategic Value and Impact Creation for Shared Prosperity and Growth,” and served as a platform for dialogue on how businesses can contribute to empowering Ghana’s youth through entrepreneurship and agribusiness initiatives. The meeting also highlighted KIC’s youth development programs as CSR initiatives that organisations can adapt, while at the same time also creating a unique talent pipeline for organizations seeking to drive innovation and sustainability.

In her opening remarks, H.E Myriam Montrat, Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, emphasized the critical role of the private sector in shaping Ghana’s future. “The Canadian High Commission is committed to ensuring business growth for Ghanaian and Canadian companies through bilateral trade, as well as its efforts in youth education and development”. She also emphasized on the importance of organisation’s focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility and the impact of their operations on the environment and on society.

Mr. Jean-Noel Blanc, Head of Economic Department of the French Embassy in Accra, highlighted the role of the embassy in promoting bilateral trade as well as SME development. He mentioned that events such as these provide the opportunity to highlight the importance of business and CSR. “ The French embassy recognizes the economic value of social initiatives that address critical challenges like youth integration and employment. By finding innovative pathways to engage and empower young people, we address pressing socio-economic issues, not just in Ghana but globally,” he added.

Providing perspectives on strategic value creation, Prof. Daniel Ofori, Professor of Management, University of Ghana Business School, presented on Corporate Responsibility, Shared Value and the role of organisations in promoting corporate strategy aligned to environmental, social and governance indicators. He highlighted the importance of youth development in building organizational strategies.

In his remarks, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director for KIC said: “by investing in the potential of the youth, we not only create shared prosperity but also build the resilience of our economy. KIC programs empower young people to identify opportunities within the agricultural sector and create business solutions through training and capacity building”.

The discussions focused on KIC’s impactful programs working together with its partners, which have nurtured over 59 thriving agribusinesses, provided skills training for more than 69,000 young people, and supported the development of sustainable food systems. The Center’s innovative approach to entrepreneurship and its alignment with corporate strategies were lauded as models for replication across industries.

The CEO Meeting concluded with a call to action for the private sector to deepen its engagement with KIC and similar initiatives to foster youth-led innovation, address unemployment, and create long-term value for businesses and society.