Ghana Grows programme equips 30 young women with entrepreneurial skills

The Ghana Grows programme, an initiative by the Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with the Springboard Road Show Foundation, has successfully concluded the third pilot training of its Empower360 initiative.

The five-day session, held from 2nd to 6th June, equipped 30 young women with practical entrepreneurial skills in tie-dye and batik, shoemaking and food processing.

Participants received hands-on training as well as starter packs to support the immediate launch of their own small businesses, marking another milestone in the programme’s drive to promote youth-led enterprise and job creation across the country.

This milestone builds on the momentum of earlier pilots, which trained 24 women in mushroom farming during the first phase, and 32 women in make-up artistry, resin art and soap production in the second. Together, these sessions form part of a broader vision aimed at enhancing economic outcomes for young women and persons with disabilities.

For this pilot, four youth-led organisations—Ahofade Shoes, Marvin D’autey, Tet’d Handmade Shoes and Habarata Textiles—actively trained the participants. A key element of the programme’s success is the involvement of youth-led organisations (YLOs), which serve as facilitators and peer mentors throughout the training.

Their participation fosters a supportive environment that enables participants to develop not only technical skills but also confidence and teamwork.

Following the training phase, YLOs are now leading post-training activities, including business coaching, market linkages and ongoing support. Their continued involvement ensures that the impact of Empower360 extends beyond certificates or starter packs, contributing to lasting change in participants’ lives.

The partnership has also proved beneficial for the YLOs themselves, providing valuable experience in project management, facilitation and community development—strengthening their role as key actors in the youth development space.

The Executive Director of the Springboard Road Show Foundation, Comfort Ocran, said: “Empower360 is a solution to the real issues young Ghanaians face. Our mission is to equip them, restore their confidence and enable them to become self-reliant by opening pathways to long-term opportunities that will help them thrive”.

Participants in the third pilot took part in hands-on activities, group learning and interactive sessions led by experienced trainers. The week-long programme also placed strong emphasis on innovation, business development and peer support, ensuring that participants gained not only technical skills but also a robust entrepreneurial mindset.

Bridget Ama Eshun, a participant in the programme, expressed her excitement, saying: “I came here with absolutely no idea about fabric making, but today I walk away with not just knowledge, but a complete starter kit to launch my own business”.

With each pilot, the Ghana Grows programme continues to demonstrate the power of targeted, inclusive interventions in transforming lives and communities. The initiative remains committed to scaling its impact and supporting more women to build sustainable and thriving enterprises.

About Ghana Grows

The Ghana Grows programme is an initiative of the Mastercard Foundation, led by the Springboard Road Show Foundation. Lyme Haus serves as a sub-implementing partner, working alongside key technical collaborators such as Axis Human Capital, Meraki Arts Africa, Light for the World, the Ghana Psychological Association (GPA), Young & Vibe, the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA).

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