For the past decade, Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) has been at the forefront of youth entrepreneurship, innovation, and agricultural transformation in Ghana. What began as a bold vision to empower young people through agribusiness and innovation has evolved into one of Ghana’s leading entrepreneurship and agricultural development initiatives, impacting thousands of young people, businesses, and communities across the country.
As KIC officially launches its 10th Anniversary celebration under the theme “A Decade of Youth Impact, Innovation and Agricultural Transformation,” the milestone serves not only as a reflection on the organization’s journey, but also as a renewed commitment to shaping the future of agriculture and entrepreneurship in Africa.
The anniversary launch brought together government officials, development partners, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, academia, KIC program participants, alumni, farmers, ecosystem stakeholders, as well as the board members and staff of KIC, to reflect on KIC’s journey and explore the future of youth-driven agricultural innovation.
Speaking at the anniversary launch, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC noted that the celebration is not merely about commemorating years of existence, but about celebrating lives transformed, opportunities created, and a growing movement of young innovators changing the narrative around agriculture.
In his opening remarks, Paul Kasanga, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation highlighted the partnership between KIC and the Mastercard Foundation under the Initiative for Youth in Agricultural Transformation ( IYAT) Program that is creating dignified and fulfilling work for young people in Ghana. He commended KIC for the anniversary milestone as KIC looks ahead to deepening its impact to reach more young people to become employed through entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Joe Mensah, KIC Board Chair highlighted KIC’s journey from being a corporate social responsibility program under Kosmos Energy, to becoming a registered NGO working collaboratively with other key stakeholders and partners to empower young people to grow from having a business idea, to becoming start-ups and small businesses making an impact in agriculture.
At a time when youth unemployment remains one of Ghana and Africa’s most pressing challenges, KIC has consistently positioned agriculture as a viable pathway for economic empowerment, innovation, and sustainable development. Through its unique entrepreneurship-centered approach, KIC has helped redefine how young people perceive agriculture — moving it from subsistence activity to a modern, technology-driven sector with opportunities for careers and jobs.
Over the years, KIC has empowered thousands of young entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, business incubation, acceleration programs, access to funding opportunities, market linkages, and innovation support. These interventions have enabled young people to build sustainable agribusinesses, create jobs, strengthen local economies, and contribute meaningfully to food security and economic resilience. A total of 64,165 young people have been put to work. 21,712 women have received entrepreneurship training. KIC has also incubated close to 91 start-ups.
Across Ghana, KIC-supported businesses are transforming agricultural value chains through innovation in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, agritech solutions, food processing, mechanization, logistics, digital agriculture, and sustainable production systems. Beyond business growth, many of these enterprises are creating social impact by empowering women, supporting smallholder farmers, and improving livelihoods within underserved communities.
Kosmos Innovation Center’s impact extends beyond entrepreneurship alone. KIC has played a significant role in building an ecosystem that connects young entrepreneurs to investors, policymakers, development partners, academia, and industry leaders. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative programs, KIC continues to champion innovation and enterprise development as critical drivers of agricultural transformation in Ghana and across Africa.
Activities marking the celebration include exhibitions and marketplace showcases, storytelling campaigns, impact conversations, stakeholder engagements, alumni activations, networking opportunities, and testimonials from entrepreneurs whose journeys have been shaped through KIC programs over the past decade.
As KIC enters its next chapter, it remains focused on expanding opportunities for young people, strengthening agribusiness ecosystems, driving innovation, and contributing to inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth.
Ten years on, the vision remains clear: empowering entrepreneurs to build innovative, sustainable, scalable businesses that create jobs for Africa’s agricultural transformation, with a focus on youth and agriculture.
