ACCRA, Ghana, 25th March, 2021<\/strong> \u2013 Today, the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), formerly NBSSI<\/a>, and the Mastercard Foundation<\/a> announced a partnership with Lokko House Limited<\/a>, to create a retail shop and an online marketplace. The platform will enable women-owned and led enterprises to promote their products and connect with customers globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lokko House Limited, a Ghanaian enterprise that promotes urban art, fashion, and creative culture, will lead the initiative which falls under GEA and the Mastercard Foundation\u2019s Young Africa Works<\/a> in Ghana MSME Business Acceleration (MBA) program. The goal is to support women entrepreneurs with brand building, business promotion, and access to new markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The retail and online shop themed \u201cMade in Ghana Concept Shop\u201d will host and market products from targeted MSMEs within the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qualifying business owners can visit www.nbssi.gov.gh\/youngafricaworks<\/a> to complete the MBA component application form and apply for the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is an increasing need to develop initiatives that allow women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and to access new markets. We are aware that the empowerment of women and their businesses tend to have a strong multiplier effect on the wider community. That is why we are launching this initiative to help open new market opportunities and increase revenues for MSMEs that are owned and led by women. This opportunity couldn\u2019t have come at a better time, as we commemorate Women\u2019s month.\u201d<\/p>Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, Chief Executive Officer of GEA.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In addition to opening access to both local and international markets, qualified business owners will benefit from capacity building in branding and digital marketing to increase their revenue earnings while unlocking sustainable job opportunities for Ghanaian youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the right support, digitization, and access to new markets, women-owned and led MSMEs have the potential to lead the economic recovery effort in Ghana and create better futures for their families and communities.\u201d<\/p>Nathalie Akon Gabala, MasterCard Foundation\u2019s Regional Director for West, Central and Northern Africa<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n About the Project<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA)\/Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works Project is an entrepreneurship development and employment program targeted at young people, particularly young women, in Ghana. The Project therefore falls under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Program (YEEP)<\/a> of GEA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Project is being implemented in Ghana by GEA and will create employment and income-generation opportunities for 39,000 young men and women in Ghana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 70% of the 39,000 beneficiaries will be women. The Project leverages on existing GEA flagship Programs such as the Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E), Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Hubs, and the Kaizen Program. These programs are delivered through the 183 Business Advisory Centres\/Business Resource Centres across the country and in collaboration with other Young Africa Works partners in Ghana including CAMFED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Ghana Enterprises Agency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The GEA, formerly NBSSI, is the main governmental body under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, mandated to strengthen, grow, and develop Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)in Ghana. GEA has the largest footprint of any agency or organisation in Ghana in its work with entrepreneurs and women-led MSME development. It has presence in the 16 Regions and operates in 183 Districts across Ghana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about NBSSI please visit our website and other media pages. http:\/\/www.nbssi.gov.gh. Follow the Board on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook <\/a>and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Lokko House<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since its inception in 2008, Lokko House, a Ghanaian establishment, is dedicated to cultivating and promoting Accra\u2019s urban art, fashion, and creative culture. Its mission is to be the meeting point and intersecting platform where shoppers, students, professionals, creatives and public or private institutions connect to exchange thoughts, products and experiences, all powered by a healthy dose of creativity. This partnership is another important milestone that perfectly aligns with their quest to support and help develop businesses and brands operating in the Ghanaian creative sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information on Lokko House visit www.lokkohouse.com<\/a> or @lokkohouse on all platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About the Mastercard Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The <\/a>Mastercard Foundation<\/a> works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous Communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information on the Foundation, please visit: <\/a>www.mastercardfdn.org<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n About Young Africa Works<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The <\/a>Young Africa Works strategy<\/a> sets out an ambitious goal of enabling 30 million young people in Africa, especially young women, to secure work they see as dignified and fulfilling. Using youth employment as a key measure of socio-economic progress, we aim to support millions of young people to find a pathway out of poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n