Accra, Ghana – 13 August 2026 — The United Nations Global Compact Network Ghana has celebrated a new cohort of young corporate innovators following the successful conclusion of the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals Ghana Solutions Showcase, with Ghana Manganese Company Limited emerging as the overall winner.
Held at the African Regent Hotel in Accra, the showcase marked the culmination of an intensive learning and innovation journey that saw participating young professionals undergo a series of capacity-building trainings and four Accelerator camps between April and July 2026. The program equipped participants with the knowledge, tools and practical approaches to identify sustainability challenges within their organizations and develop innovative solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Ghana Solutions Showcase provided the final platform for these innovators to demonstrate how their ideas had evolved throughout the Accelerator journey. The event was designed to give participating corporate teams an opportunity to present their solutions, receive constructive feedback from industry and development experts, explore opportunities for collaboration, and demonstrate the potential business and societal impact of their innovations.
The event opened with remarks from Mr. Tolu Lacroix, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, who set the tone for the day’s proceedings and highlighted the importance of empowering young professionals to contribute to sustainable business transformation. He was followed by Mr. Will Senyo, who delivered the Facilitator’s Remarks, providing further perspective on innovation, entrepreneurship and the importance of turning ideas into practical solutions.
Adding to the day’s reflections, Ms. Rhoda Boateng, Program Manager at the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, took participants and guests through the Accelerator journey and the work that had brought the innovators to the Showcase.
The programme moved into the main Solutions Showcase, with seven (7) participating teams from Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), L’AINE, Jospong Group of Companies, Ghana Chamber of Mines, KEK Insurance Brokers, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), and Ghana Manganese Company Limited presenting their solutions. Each team was given seven minutes to pitch, followed by five minutes of questions and answers.
The presentations were assessed by a distinguished jury comprising Theresa Yeboah, Innovation Specialist at UNFPA; Kyerewaa Osei-Mensah, Manager, Environmental, Social & Impact at Growth Investment Partners Limited; and Dominic Asante Opoku-Manu, Project Manager at the UN Global Compact Network Ghana.
Following the presentations and jury deliberations, Ghana Manganese Company Limited emerged as the overall winner with their solution titled ROCKSTONE, taking first place. Jospong Group secured second place with Grainfinity, while Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) placed third with Repurposing Efua Sunderland Park.
The Showcase also recognized outstanding performance across specific categories. Jospong Group received the Best Pitch Presentation award, while Ghana Manganese Company Limited was recognized for the solution with the Most Social Impact. Additionally, Ms. Ramatu Ali-Toure emerged as the Most Engaged Champion Award and Mr. Duke Adomako Oppong as the Most Engaged Mentor.
The awards reflected the Showcase’s structured evaluation framework. The Top Three winners were determined based on the highest aggregate scores across five evaluation criteria, while the Best Pitch Presentation was based specifically on performance in pitch execution. The Most Social Impact award recognized the solution with the strongest performance in SDG alignment and national priorities.
Beyond the presentations, the Showcase served as a celebration of the young professionals’ growth and achievements throughout the Accelerator. The program culminated in the graduation of qualifying innovators, who received certificates recognizing their completion of the Accelerator learning journey.
Moderating the Showcase was Ms. Nana Yaa Agyekumhene, Communications and Administrative Assistant at the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, who guided the program through the presentations, jury evaluation, recognition ceremony and graduation.
The Showcase demonstrated the potential of structured youth-focused innovation programs to support businesses in identifying practical responses to sustainability challenges. It also reinforced the importance of creating opportunities for young professionals to bring fresh perspectives, innovation and SDG-focused solutions into their organizations.
Through the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals, the UN Global Compact Network Ghana continues to support emerging business leaders with the skills, knowledge and platforms needed to translate sustainability challenges into practical solutions and advance responsible business practices across Ghana.
From the first training session to the final pitch, the 2026 Accelerator journey demonstrated what is possible when young professionals are empowered to think differently and given the opportunity to turn ideas into action. As the innovators return to their respective organizations, the real work begins: taking these solutions beyond the Showcase and turning them into lasting impact.
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