Total Petroleum Ghana announces winners of “StartUpper of the Year” contest

Total Petroleum Ghana Ltd., one of Ghana’s leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), has climaxed its maiden edition of the “StartUpper of the Year” contest with an awards ceremony and dinner in Accra.  The ceremony saw  Joshua Ayinbora  emerge the ultimate winner, followed by Salma Abdulai and Eunice Owusu Karikari. 

The contest, launched in the last quarter of 2015, seeks to unearth and support young and budding entrepreneurs with financial packages and coaching programmes. From the hundreds of applicants who submitted their proposals to take part in the contest, the number was whittled down to ten who were presented with a platform to present their projects before a panel of judges.

The winners, Joshua Ayinbora of JE&F Company Limited, Eunice Owusu-Karikari of E-Juice Company Ltd., and Salma Abdulai of Unique Quality Product Enterprise were adjudged the best contestants at the end of a gruelling pitching session. The three take home a whopping GHC 160,000 and a year-long coaching programme for their businesses to be sponsored by Total Petroleum Ghana Ltd.

Commenting on the selection of the three finalists for the contest, Olivier Van Parys, Managing Director of Total Petroleum Ghana Ltd., expressed his joy at the level of interest and participation in the “StartUpper” contest by the youth of Ghana. According to Van Parys “This demonstrates clearly that the youth of Ghana are ready and able to create jobs for themselves” Whilst commending the three finalists for emerging the eventual winners of the competition, he further asked the other seven finalists not to give up on their projects but to endeavour to see them through.

The “Startupper of the Year by Total” Challenge, held in 34 African countries, is part of Total’s overall policy  of  supporting  the  socio-economic  development  of  all  its  host  countries  worldwide.  It is a very concrete initiative to help strengthen the industrial base and employment opportunities in the participating countries by helping the boldest and most innovative entrepreneurs carry out their projects. The contest aims to foster new initiatives in Africa while upholding Total’s core values.