The Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) has held the maiden Ghana Climate Launchpad competition in Accra. It brought together teams from all 16 regions of the country to select the most viable innovative ideas and businesses to combat Climate Change.
After a contest, Sabon Sake, a team whose business is to heighten food security in Africa by producing and distributing carbon-based soil amendments for restoration and regeneration of soil health, won the Climate Launchpad Ghana 2019 competition.
Out of eight (8) finalists that pitched their climate change mitigation and adaptation ideas, the former took lead.
The team, led by Audrey S. Darko, made a case for non-chemical climate responsible approach to increasing soil fertility for commercial farmers and agri-businesses. The pitch was backed by meticulous research and practical experience from the team’s soil amendment plant which currently produces for a small market.
In second place is team Bamboo Composite with its plan to reduce Ghana’s housing deficit by developing affordable eco-housing, communities and cities while providing renewable energy and sustainable water supply for clients. The team lead, Samuel Worwui, exhibited all-natural renewable materials and proved Bamboo Composite’s place on the real estate market especially in the face of rising costs in housing and depletion on finite natural resources.
Meanwhile, team Proteos Technologies took third place with their pitch on production of organic fertilisers from natural waste and affordable bird feed for farmers. Leader of Proteos Technologies, Kelvin Andrew Ofori focuses on providing the alternative to heavily chemicalised fertilizers which commercial farmers utilize currently.
In his opening address at the competition, Marketing and Communications Director of GCIC, Ahuma Cabutey Adodoadji, stressed the need to produce and upscale green businesses in Ghana. He said that this was necessary for the success of the country’s sustainable development agenda.
The first two winners of the competition will represent Ghana at the world finals in the Netherlands on November 14 & 15. The team in third position is Ghana’s wild card – to compete with other third positions across the world via public votes, to secure its place in the finals as well.
Climate Launchpad is the largest green business ideas competition, with 53 participating countries. It is aimed at unlocking the world’s clean technology potential to combat climate change.
