The McDan Foundation has successfully organized the third edition of the McDan Youth Connect programme in Kwadaso, Kumasi, dubbed the Adventist edition. The event brought together young innovators from across the country to pitch their business ideas and receive mentorship from industry leaders.
Ten finalists presented their projects before a panel of judges, including Prakash Pine and Ama Gifty Amoah. The innovative ideas showcased included a beauty soap for treating pimples and rashes, a Smart Dropbox irrigation system for smallholder farmers, and Faultfinder, a smart grid monitoring system designed to reduce electricity risks across Africa. Other notable presentations featured a sustainable poultry project aimed at cutting down poultry imports, Note Echo, a lecture-recording and transcription app, and AD Natural Juice, a brand producing fresh local fruit juices.
The Tenaso Youth Team emerged as the overall winner with their citronella oil production project, earning a ₵20,000 grant from the McDan Foundation to scale up their operations.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme “From Vision to Impact,” the Founder and Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Dr. Daniel McKorley, urged the participants to pursue their dreams with discipline, integrity, and perseverance. He encouraged the youth to see challenges as opportunities for innovation and to focus on building sustainable ventures that create jobs and transform communities. “It is not enough to have a dream,” Dr. McKorley said. “You must act on it, stay consistent, and ensure your success benefits others.” He commended all the finalists for their creativity and resilience, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs nationwide.
The McDan Foundation, which serves as the corporate social responsibility arm of the McDan Group, continues to champion initiatives that empower Ghanaian youth through education, entrepreneurship, and community development. The Youth Connect programme forms part of the Foundation’s broader mission to create opportunities that inspire innovation, promote self-reliance, and contribute to national growth.
