In
a
significant
move
to
propel
Ghana’s
agricultural
sector
towards
a
more
sustainable
future,
Fidelity
Bank
has
announced
the
GreenTech
Innovation
Challenge
(GTIC)
2024.
This
initiative
will
award
over
GH¢1million
in
grant
funding
to
support
innovative
solutions
addressing
critical
challenges
within
the
country’s
agricultural
value
chain.
The
GTIC
2024
aims
to
empower
Ghanaian
businesses
and
innovators
by
providing
them
with
the
resources
they
need
to
launch
or
scale
their
GreenTech
solutions.
These
solutions
have
the
potential
to
revolutionise
Ghana’s
agricultural
sector,
ensuring
a
more
sustainable
and
productive
future.
Fidelity
Bank’s
Managing
Director,
Julian
Opuni,
speaking
to
the
media
in
Accra
yesterday,
emphasised
the
bank’s
dedication
to
supporting
the
agricultural
sector,
adding,
“Our
commitment
to
agriculture
is
not
new.”
“During
the
3i
Africa
Summit
in
May
2024,
we
announced
the
expansion
of
our
Fidelity
Young
Entrepreneurs
Initiative
through
the
introduction
of
an
AgricTech
competition.
We
recognise
the
immense
potential
of
technological
solutions
in
the
Agric
sector,
and
the
GTIC
is
a
significant
step
forward
in
nurturing
this
potential,”
he
said.
Mr
Opuni
further
highlighted
the
importance
of
engaging
Ghana’s
youthful
population,
saying,
“Africa
boasts
of
a
youthful
population,
with
over
60
per
cent
under
the
age
of
25.
However,
the
agricultural
sector
often
fails
to
capture
the
imagination
of
this
demographic.”
“The
GTIC
is
designed
to
change
that.
We
want
to
attract
young,
tech-savvy
minds
and
empower
them
to
develop
innovative
solutions
that
will
transform
Ghana’s
agricultural
landscape.
We
are
excited
to
see
the
incredible
ideas
that
emerge
and
become
catalysts
for
progress,”
he
said.
The
GTIC,
he
said,
was
meticulously
structured
to
empower
innovators
at
three
various
stages
of
development.
“The
Ideation
Tier
is
designed
for
innovators
with
new,
groundbreaking
ideas
that
can
tackle
specific
agricultural
challenges.
Participants
in
this
tier
will
be
equipped
with
the
resources
and
support
needed
to
turn
their
concepts
into
actionable
solutions,
laying
the
groundwork
for
impactful
GreenTech
solutions,”
he
said.
Applications
for
the
GreenTech
Innovation
Challenge
are
now
open
and
will
be
accepted
until
July
21,
2024.
The
challenge
will
culminate
in
exciting
pitching
events
where
finalists
will
present
their
solutions
to
a
distinguished
panel
of
judges.
Winners
will
be
awarded
not
only
grant
funding
but
also
invaluable
mentorship
and
the
chance
to
bring
their
innovations
to
scale.
BY
KINGSLEY
ASARE