In an effort to encourage more women to venture into agribusiness, The Agribusiness Students' Association of Ghana, University of Cape Coast Chapter (ABSAG-UCC), has launched their 2025 Miss Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Contest, with the overarching vision to empower young women and elevate the role of agribusiness in national development.

Aims Miss Agribusiness Contest

In a colourful ceremony held at the UCC Sasakawa Conference Room on 15th May, 2025, the contest was launched, aiming to celebrate female students who exhibit passion, innovation, and leadership in the agricultural sector, while creating a vibrant platform for advocacy and awareness.

The programmed theme "Seeds of Innovation: Empowering Women in Agribusiness" further sought to promote sustainable practices, value addition, and agritech solutions. It further contest sought to inspire a new generation of women entrepreneurs committed to transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape and contributing meaningfully to its economic growth.



Lack of Support for Women in Agribusiness



The Central Regional Officer for Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD), Ms. Mabel Konadu Boahen, bemoaned the insignificant level of support offered to women in agribusiness, considering their enormous contribution to Ghana's agric sector.

In her lamentations, she noted that although women constitute about 70% of the country's agribusiness sector - from providing input to farming itself, harvesting, processing, aggregation, and even trading of farm produce, their contributions remain unrecognized despite the support offered to the sector.

According to her, assessing the contributions of women to the sustainability of Ghana's agribusiness, it is imperative for government to consciously support women in agriculture, particularly in its 'Feed Ghana Project', to make the sector more appealing to females to venture into it, thereby reducing the unemployment burden in the country.

Ms. Mabel Konadu Boahen made these assertions as guest speaker for the official launch of the 2025 Miss Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Contest.

How the Contest Runs

The contest, which will see seven elegant agribusiness students of UCC battle it out for the ultimate prize over the next three months, is tailored to unearth the agricultural prowess and diversity of these students by sharing innovative agribusiness initiatives that address agri-related challenges. The winner will be supported with cash, mentoring by successful entrepreneurs, and guidance to succeed within the agriculture value chain.

Appeal for Support

Miss Martha Opoku, Deputy Head of the contest's Organizing Committee, highlighted that the contest aims to motivate women to become giants in agribusiness by helping them nurture their business ideas into functional and enduring job-creation ventures.

She took the opportunity to appeal for governmental support, beseeching other philanthropic societies to come to their aid by way of sponsorship and partnerships with these agribusiness contestants. She emphasized that many Ghanaian youths possess unique business ideas but lack the financial muscle to bring their ideas to fruition; thus, any form of collaboration that would help a youth implement their business idea is welcome.

Appreciation

On behalf of the contestants, Francisca Arthur Ameniko, a level 100 agribusiness student at UCC, expressed delight in joining the competition, which not only offers them exposure over their colleague students but also provides them with the opportunity to exhibit and defend their innovative business ideas while receiving assistance from agribusiness investors.

In bridging the agribusiness gap between males and females, statistics show that in the informal sector, men own 56% of agribusinesses in the country, whereas women pride themselves with 44% agribusinesses ownership.

Dignitaries Present

The launch saw astute agriculture personalities like the Managing Director for Twifo Oil Palm Plantation, Mr. Daniel Kojo Nyame, who incidentally chaired the event; Management and Tax Consultant Mr. Perry Mensah; Ms. Victoria Abankwah, the Director of Agric for KEEA Municipality; Leticia Abena Paintsil, the winner of the contest in 2024; and many other dignitaries.

As the launch is over, the 7 female contestants are assiduously preparing to pitch their knowledge against each other to determine who will emerge as Miss Agribusiness 2025 winner within the next three months. May the best person win.