The 6th Ghana Social Enterprise Forum, organised by Social Enterprise Ghana, was held at the British Council in Accra under the theme “Smart Impact: Leveraging Technology to Accelerate Social Innovations.”
The annual event brought together policymakers, investors, development partners, innovators and social entrepreneurs to examine how Ghana can build a resilient, technology-driven social enterprise ecosystem.
Delivering the opening remarks, Dr. Lartey Amma Sefia-Dedeh, Board Chairperson of Social Enterprise Ghana, stressed the need for stronger collaboration across sectors.
“Building social networks and partnerships is key to strengthening Ghana’s social enterprise ecosystem,”
“We are committed to training the next generation of social entrepreneurs, particularly those in the technical education space, to empower our SMEs,” she said.
She highlighted the transformational role of technology and artificial intelligence in shaping global economies. “The world today is being shaped by technology,” she noted.
“With over 70 percent of Ghana’s population being young, we have a tremendous opportunity to harness technology to create jobs, improve healthcare and education, and drive the change we all want to see.”
A major highlight was an update on Social Enterprise Ghana’s nationwide youth entrepreneurship programme, which aims to train 80,000 young people to create socially impactful and profitable ventures.
So far, 2,000 youth have received training in idea development, business setup, fundraising and enterprise growth.
Speakers encouraged unemployed youth to view social entrepreneurship as a viable path to self-employment and community transformation. They urged young people to apply technology for income generation rather than limiting its use to social media entertainment.
Special Guest Speaker Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson called for a decisive shift from Ghana’s traditional economy to a modern, technology-driven one. He said the nation is “on the verge of a significant transformation,” anchored by smart agriculture, digital innovation and tech entrepreneurship. But he warned that policy support must match the ambitions of young innovators.
“Many young people are forced into ‘secure’ but undesirable jobs,” he said. “Access to credit and opportunities remains one of the biggest barriers. We must support them with practical policies, not lofty dreams, so they can thrive in the new economy.”
Dr. Kludjeson also discussed the socioeconomic factors driving illegal mining, noting that “galamsey is often a survival strategy because young people lack alternatives.” Empowerment and opportunity, he argued, rather than enforcement alone, will steer the youth toward productive ventures.
Participants engaged in panel discussions on digital finance, innovation, youth-led enterprises and technology-driven solutions for social impact.
The Ghana Social Enterprise Forum continues to play a central role in promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation to advance inclusive and sustainable development nationwide.
Story by: Miriam Makafui Lawson | Fati Ali Wehyemeh
