The Horticulture Business Challenge 2026 Kicks Off

The future of Ghana’s agricultural sector was on full display last Thursday at the WACCI on the University of Ghana campus. Out of over 300 ambitious applicants, the top 24 young minds gathered for the highly anticipated kick-off of the 3rd edition of the Horticulture Business Challenge (HBC).

By the end of the intensive day-long event, 12 standout participants secured their spots to advance to the main internship and implementation phase of the program.

The morning program was steered by HBC Coach Susanne Afum Roelofsen, who moderated a series of inspiring addresses from key stakeholders deeply invested in Ghana’s youth and horticultural ecosystems.

Hilde Famaey, General Manager of the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), welcomed the participants by acknowledging the rigorous recruitment process they had survived. Emphasizing the private sector’s critical role in sustainable economic growth, she broke down the complex machinery of the horticulture value chain: from quality seeds and skilled youth to enabling government policies and accessible markets. Ms. Famaey challenged the participants with a reflective homework assignment: “At the end of this program, how will you have contributed to creating that thriving horticulture sector we are all working on?”

Rens Twijnstra, First Secretary of Economic Affairs for the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, celebrated the collective brainpower in the room. He traced the Embassy’s 14-year involvement in Ghana’s horticulture space, noting a 2022 pivot toward a more business-led, sustainable focus alongside core partner GNBCC. Mr. Twijnstra offered reassuring career advice to the young cohort, reminding them that career paths are rarely straight lines and that pivoting is a natural part of professional growth.

The participants also heard from Paul Anartey, Program Manager at the Ghana Food Movement (GFM). Mr. Anartey highlighted GFM’s ongoing partnership with the GNBCC through the “Youth in Food” program: a 6-month skills training initiative designed to equip young people with the resources, networks, and internships necessary to succeed in the food and agriculture job markets. He also shared updates on “The Kitchen,” GFM’s beautiful space in Osu dedicated to promoting local Ghanaian foods and entrepreneurs.

Finally, Eugene Eluerkeh, Senior Growth Catalyst at GrowthAfrica, introduced the Orange Corners acceleration program. Supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy and corporate partners like Fidelity Bank and Cargill, the 6-month program empowers entrepreneurs (aged 18 to 35) who have been running revenue-generating businesses for at least two years. Mr. Eluerkeh encouraged the participants to apply, noting that Orange Corners actively looks for innovations in the green, data, and creative sectors, and even offers “wild card” slots for exceptionally promising applicants.

Private Sector Business Cases

Following the addresses, the spotlight shifted to the private sector. Representatives from four innovative companies presented their business cases live, detailing the specific challenges they face in their operations and what they are looking for from the participants:

• Celestina Danso from Holland Greentech
• Benjamin Agamah from Horticulture Business Platform (HBP)
• Georgina Boamah from Verte Tower
• Esther Owusu Nkwantabisah from Health Cave

A dynamic Q&A session allowed the 24 participants to dig deeper into the companies’ operational hurdles, setting the stage for the afternoon’s ultimate challenge.

The Pitch and Selection

Moderated by HBC Coach Joana Chemel, the afternoon transitioned from theory to rapid-fire practice. Participants were tasked with forming small teams (a maximum of three), selecting a company’s business challenge, and developing a viable solution.

After hours of intense brainstorming and preparation, the teams pitched their strategies directly to the company representatives. The companies then deliberated, selecting the teams that presented the most innovative and practical solutions.

Meet the Final 12

Congratulations to the final 12 participants who successfully secured their spots! These talented individuals represent a diverse array of institutions, including: Regional Maritime University, University of Ghana, KNUST, University of Education, Winneba, UPSA, UniMAC Institute of Journalism and SDD-UBIDS.

What’s Next?

These 12 finalists will be hosted in Accra next week for an intensive preparation workshop. Following the workshop, they will begin internships with their matched companies, working as teams to implement the solutions they pitched. Throughout the internship, they will receive weekly soft skills and horticultural training organized by the HBC project team.

Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work, and a special thank you to the invited guests, partner companies, and organizers for continuing to cultivate the next generation of horticulture business leaders!