Thamar Victoria Afedu-Annan: Leading a movement of health and nutrition

By Samuel SAM

Education has been a hallmark for critical reasoning and empowerment for the youth contributing to the development of the nation.

Though some attend school to seek jobs, others attend to gain knowledge and skills to building on the existing given talents with mentorship, guidance and counselling from some organisations or individuals that have taken a leading step in their entrepreneurship programmes or industries.

In view of that the curricula developed by management in training students Social Change Communication at the University for Development Studies(UDS) is a worthy cause that has helped to shape many students who have undergone  training to diversify by taking opportunity of the programme to be job creators and not seekers.

Background of the business and personal profile

Thamar Victoria Afedu-Annan is the founder of GirlFarmsHub, a Ghanaian food innovation company based in Tamale. GirlFarmsHub processes and packages nutritious value-added food products made from local crops such as dates, beetroots and miracle berries.

She is also a graduate of the Department of Social Change Communication of UDS who has gone beyond the academic achievement to utilise the God-given talent to produce healthy food supplements.

Their products, including date syrup, date powder, date tea and beetroot powder, are developed with a focus on health, sustainability and empowerment. GirlFarmsHub is not just a business but a movement of health and nutrition through innovation, promoting awareness about eating what we have, but in healthier and more innovative ways.

With years of experience in communication, agriculture, advocacy and project management, the young graduate has decided to embark on a journey with the blend of passion for food systems, social change and innovation to create impact-driven businesses that empower communities.

Motivation for venturing into the sector

“My motivation came from working closely with farmers and communities and realising how much potential lies in agriculture, yet much is lost through waste and underutilisation. I saw an opportunity to create value where many saw little to process, innovate and promote nutritious products from what we already grow”, she said.

According to her, the observation and the waste of the resources encouraged her to think beyond the box to go the extra mile to make use of the resources by seeking guidance on productions.

Motivation for starting the business

The motivation for starting GirlFarmsHub came from observing the increasing rate of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, many of which are linked to poor diet and excessive consumption of processed foods. I realised that food innovation could play a key role in transforming the way people eat by creating healthier alternatives using our local crops; hence, the initiative.

GirlFarmsHub was born from that conviction to fight lifestyle diseases and promote health consciousness through innovation. By processing and packaging nutritious products made from dates, beetroots and miracle berries, the products help people enjoy natural, functional foods that support better health while reducing food waste and empowering local farmers.

It is more than a business; it is a movement. A movement for health, nutrition and innovation, showing that the future of food in Ghana and Africa is not imported; it is right here with us.

“For me, this is not just entrepreneurship, but a mission to make healthy eating accessible, enjoyable and proudly local,” she said.

Who are your sponsors

So far, most of our support is done through personal investments. We also receive guidance and mentorship from various ecosystem enablers and organisations interested in promoting women-led agribusinesses.

Major achievements so far

With the support of the local farmers through sourcing and waste reduction efforts, we have been able to achieve an estimated 30 percent reduction in food waste from our supply chain.

Through intensive awareness creation, most smallholder farmers and the youth have been encouraged and educated on the need to identify some opportunities within their field of study or community and tap into them to make a living.

Currently, we are also working toward Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) certification for all our products while exploring export partnerships in growing the business.

Some challenges

Every successful project or initiative has its challenges, which is not different from the initiative aimed at growing the economy and also creating job opportunities.

One major challenge is packaging and storage technology. In fact, access to affordable, food-grade packaging materials and consistent energy supply for processing also pose difficulties to food and beverage processors in the northern sector.

Also, many small agro-processors like GirlFarmsHub face limited access to finance and are affected by high operational costs, making it difficult to scale innovation sustainably. Most financial institutions, due to previous experience, find it difficult to grant loans to star-up businesses; thereby making it difficult for young entrepreneurs in building of their dreams and aspirations in order to contribute to the development of the nation.

What can be done to improve entrepreneurship in Ghana

Entrepreneurship can thrive when education, innovation and financing meet. We need entrepreneurship programmes that go beyond training; they must offer real funding, mentorship and access to markets.

We should also promote local value chains, where Ghanaian products are processed, packaged and branded locally for both domestic and export markets.

Challenges confronting entrepreneurship in Ghana

The biggest challenges include limited access to capital, high taxes, bureaucracy in certification and registration and lack of infrastructure like cold storage and reliable electricity.

Another challenge is the limited local market appetite for home-grown or home-made innovations. Many consumers still prefer imported products, which discourages local manufacturers.

Business projection for the next five years

In five years, I see GirlFarmsHub becoming a leading African brand for healthy, innovative and sustainable food products exporting across Africa and beyond. We plan to establish a modern processing facility in Tamale, train more women and youth in food innovation and expand our product line under the theme of ‘Eat Local, Live Healthy’ with slogan ‘A Hub of Innovative Foods’.

Recommendations

To grow Ghana’s agro-processing and food innovation sector, there should be stronger support systems for start-ups, including access to affordable packaging materials, testing and certification labs in regional areas and grants for food innovation research. We also need strategic partnerships between businesses, universities and government agencies to turn research into market-ready innovations.

To the government, there is the need to create policies that de-risk agro-processing for youth, provide accessible financing and promote local content consumption, encouraging Ghanaians to value “Made in Ghana” food.

To the youth, they should not wait for perfect conditions but be creative and innovative with the little resources available. This can be done by starting with what you have, learn continuously and innovate with purpose. Every challenge can become an opportunity if you look at it differently.

With perseverance, passion, determination, discipline and focus as well seeking guidance and counselling, one can climb a ladder to get to the mountain..

Message for Potential Entrepreneurs

To prospective entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship is not easy, but it is deeply fulfilling when driven by purpose. “Start small, dream big and stay consistent. Your idea doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to solve a problem and create value. Challenges will come, but they will also shape your strength, clarity and innovation.”

[email protected] 233 24 229 073

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