First cohort of Tullow AgriVentures Programme graduates after year of growth

By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])

The Tullow AgriVentures Programme’s (TAP) first cohort has officially graduated, marking an end to a year-long journey of funding, technical support and market access that has transformed the fortunes of 10 agribusinesses across Ghana.

Launched in 2023 and implemented by Innohub Foundation, the programme was designed to catalyse job creation and shared prosperity by supporting entrepreneurs at different stages of the agribusiness value chain.

Under its twin tracks – New Ventures and Growth Ventures – TAP has already supported more than 440 idea-stage businesses with inputs and training while providing US$10,000 each in funding, mentorship and market linkages to 10 growth-stage agribusinesses.

Transformational journey

At the graduation event, Juliet Yayra Dzasi, Programme Coordinator at Innohub, described the year-long journey as both impactful and inspiring.

“Last year, we started with 10 businesses under the growth ventures pathway and today we celebrate their graduation after receiving funding, training and business development support.

“Beyond financing, we provided technical assistance that prepared them to become investment-ready. Already, one business is in the process of raising GH¢10million from Ghana Exim Bank to expand operations – clear proof of the programme’s impact,” she noted.

She added that the inaugural cohort has set the pace for subsequent cycles. “This year, 20 more businesses are coming on board; each set to receive US$10,000 in addition to business development support.  If last year was impactful, we expect this year to be even bigger,” she said.

Cohort 1 graduates

The 10 pioneering graduates of TAP represent a wide spectrum of innovation across the agricultural value chain. They include:

• Tropical Snacks – Healthy snack solutions using local ingredients.
• Vicca Juice – Natural juices for health-conscious consumers.
• Fafas Breakfast – Nutritious breakfast and snack options from local grains and fruits.
• Entofarms – Sustainable insect farming for animal feed and human consumption.
• A Farms – Advanced crop farming for yield and sustainability.
• Madolf Ventures – Value-added processing of grains into nutritious food.
• Wami Agro – Innovative agricultural waste management solutions.
• Vokia Farms – Agro-processing and food packaging using indigenous crops.
• Defarmacist Group Limited – Pharmaceutical-grade agricultural products.
• Minana Services – Agricultural services and consultancy.

Impact stories

The transformation of these businesses was evident in testimonies from entrepreneurs.

Vozbeth Kofi Azumah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vokia Farms, said TAP’s support enabled his business to expand staff capacity from five to 20 and scale up production from 1,000 pieces to over 24,000 pieces.

“We believe in assisting government to create jobs and with this support we are now positioning to access GH¢10million of financing to begin exports,” he said.

Similarly, Adolf Kwame Acquah, CEO-Madolf Ventures, noted that the US$10,000 grant allowed him to acquire an automated packaging machine – significantly boosting efficiency and output.

“We are now planning to expand and employ at least 40 women under 35 years by next year,” he added.

Looking forward

For Tullow Ghana, TAP represents more than corporate social investment: it is a strategic bet on agriculture as a driver of sustainable development. By equipping agripreneurs with resources and skills, the programme seeks to launch 600 new ventures and support 30 growth-stage businesses – with a target of creating 1,500 direct and 4,500 indirect jobs nationwide.

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