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Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, beauty care, and home care products, has partnered with United Way Ghana to roll out the second edition of its Youth Empowerment Programme in Takoradi, with a focus on equipping young people with entrepreneurial, leadership, and employability skills.
The initiative, sponsored by Henkel, kicked off with a three-day training session that engaged 41 participants through interactive workshops and mentoring sessions. Participants were guided on business plan development, personal growth, and sustainable enterprise strategies. The training will climax with a Pitch Competition on September 4, 2025, where young entrepreneurs will present their ideas for a chance to secure seed funding.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Alexander Klar, Senior Manager, Transaction Services at Henkel, underlined the company’s dedication to community development. “This programme aligns with Henkel’s over 100-year legacy of supporting local communities worldwide. I’m impressed by the progress of last year’s winners and excited to see these young entrepreneurs grow,” he said.
The Executive Director of United Way Ghana, Ms Faustina Abbey, highlighted the impact of the initiative. “Following the success of last year’s edition in Accra and Kumasi, where 75 young Ghanaians benefited and three businesses secured seed funding, this year’s programme in Takoradi has equipped 41 participants with leadership and entrepreneurial skills. We urge more corporate and government partners to join us in empowering Ghana’s youth to drive SME growth,” she said.
One of the participants, agricultural entrepreneur Samuel Essuman, described the training as “impactful.” He said: “The experts offered practical solutions. I’ve learned how to make my business more sustainable and plan to pitch for seed funding to scale up.”
The mentorship team included Mr Klar, Mrs Yvonne Ocloo of TopDog Africa, Dr Philomena Aboagye of Takoradi Technical University, Mrs Betty Oppea-Oteng of The Horizon Supplies and Services, and Dr Derrick Donkor of Xnnovate Consultancy. Their sessions focused on business development, leadership, and innovation.
The Youth Empowerment Programme 2.0 forms part of Henkel’s global corporate social responsibility agenda and United Way Ghana’s mission to advance education, health, and financial stability. Organisers say the long-term aim is to build stronger, more resilient communities by nurturing the next generation of Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
