EBAPreneur Solutions Ghana, a social enterprise start-up that produces briquettes from waste organic materials and solar-drier fabrications, has been adjudged winner of this year’s Israeli Green Innovation Competition.
According to the panel of judges, EBAPreneur was selected as winner among four others based on the originality of their solution, social impact ability, environmental friendliness, sustainability and ease of use.
The other finalists included Design Innovation Centre, Stillmore, Nature Code and the Sadique Cluster Farms & Agri-Consult.
The innovation competition was sponsored by the Israeli Embassy in Ghana, and happens to be the third in the series. It was held on the final day of the 2021 Ghana Garden & Flower Show – a week-long exhibition and sales show that took place at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park.
Founder and CEO of EBAPreneur Solutions, Maxwell Kojo Xonu – who represented his company in the competition, will receive a fully-paid trip to Israel to participate in industry-related conferences; in order to learn best practices, to network and to seek potential investors to expand his existing business.
Mr. Xonu, speaking to the media, indicated that he pitched two products for the competition – a solar-drier and briquettes; noting that his briquettes are made using cassava peel and sawdust, basically by-products that are usually left unused.
“Using them creates no smoke, soot or carbon deposits. Depending on the base material, they produce no or little FlyAsh. Further, briquettes do not emit gases or any toxic chemicals like sulphur,” he said.
On the solar-drier, he indicated that it is a product aimed at helping farmers to reduce post-harvest losses by making available a temperature suitable for drying harvested farm produce, such as cassava, faster without any atmospheric disturbance.
Ambassador-designate of Israel to Ghana, Shlomit Sufa, touching on sponsorship for the award, indicated that Israel prides itself on being a nation of innovation that helps to stimulate innovation wherever it finds itself; hence the continuous support to the Green Innovation Competition to provide technical support to the youth.
“We are delighted that through this show we are unearthing new solutions to solve Ghana’s challenges in the floriculture, horticulture and agriculture industry, so as to help make Ghana a cleaner, healthier, wealthier and more beautiful country,” she added.
The GGFS 2021 was climaxed with various awards for participants, among which were: Most Attractive Vendor Booth; Most Active Exhibitor Online; Most Active in Promoting GGFS; Floriculture & Horticulture Reporter of the Year, among other categories.
Esther Cobbah, CEO of Stratcomm – organiser of the event, in her closing remarks congratulated all participants for making the earth laugh and loved, as she emphasised that flowers make the earth laugh.
