Accra, Feb. 12, GNA - A 28-year old mushroom and grass cutter farmer from Dodowa, Madame Jessie Abanwaa Bartels, has been adjudged the winner of the MTN Lift Your Game TV reality show, which was keenly contested by five female finalists.

Madame Bartels, who manages Renom Food Farms, was awarded the ultimate winner of an MTN VIP package where she would be flown to South Africa to watch the 2010 World Cup. She impressed the panel of judges, who comprised Ghana's experienced entrepreneurs, with her knowledge, eloquence and presentation in the show that spanned over six months.

The event attracted hundreds of personalities, including politicians, business men, diplomats, students, and supporters of the contestants. Ms. Hannah Tetteh, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Nana Owusu Afari, President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Dr Osei Boeh-Ocansey, Director-General of the Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), Hajia Hajara Ali, member of the Council of State and many accomplished entrepreneurs, who have featured as guests on the M'asem TV programme, a show that peoples' achievements.

The MTN Lift Your Game was a unique entrepreneurship development competition organized in collaboration with the Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) and the Business Development Services Fund of the micro small and medium-scale enterprises project under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The six-month programme provided business growth training to over 300 small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); intensive training to 30 shortlisted entrepreneurs; and personalised training and mentoring to 15 finalists. The finalists were challenged by the show to develop innovative community improvement projects. Ms Hannah Tetteh lauded the initiative of the organisers and was impressed by the work of the five finalists. The community development prize, which was also sponsored by MTN, went to Patrick Kumor, who tackled the problem of waste management in Mallam.

Caption: Mad Jessie Bartels, receiving her award, whiles Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry looks on.