Spotlight Takoradi: BarCamp and The Emerging Oil Industry

Takoradi is one of the biggest towns in Ghana. It is host to the oldest of the country's functioning commercial ports, and together with its twin-city, Sekondi, forms one of the most bustling and vibrant social and commercial centres in Ghana. Sekondi-Takoradi is capital of the Western Region, an area not only rich in forest and mineral resources, but also in awesome tourist attractions and well-developed beaches. There is an active fishing community there too. Find more on the official Sekondi-Takoradi website.

Takoradi has always been a good place to do business in Ghana. With the development of the country's new oil industry, there is every indication that the metropolis has become a bee-hive of intense activity, as many multinational companies plot, strategise and scramble to gain control of the black gold. Questions have been raised with regards to safeguarding the interests of the people of the Western Region and Ghana at large. That is a charge to keep by all stakeholders.

Oil is not the only exciting thing happening in Takoradi at the moment. BarCamp is going there too. BarCamps are known to provide collaboration and networking platforms for people interested in business and other endeavours. Specifically, BarCamp Takoradi aims at catalysing networking among local business people, while showcasing opportunities available in the oil industry. The keyword here is COLLABORATION. There will be great speakers such as Nana Kobina Nketsia, Amos Anyimadu and Wilson Arthur. If you're interested in attending, register online and show up at Takoradi Technical Institute(TTI) on 27th November, 2010.

This year, successful regional BarCamps have been held in Kumasi and Accra, but BarCamp Takoradi comes with its own excitement. Firstly, Takoradi offers a refreshing alternative to Accra and Kumasi as venue for events of this nature. Secondly, it'd be interesting observe the discussions that go on concerning the oil and the opportunities that will be identified and exploited thereof. I hope BarCamp's coming to Takoradi will breed local entrepreneurial and innovative success stories that would be showcased as proof for continuation of this great project. Tsoboi!

Da Young Entrepreneur TV Show

Starting from 3rd November 2010, a new TV programme will be available to Ghanaian viewers. The Young Entrepreneur will be aired on Skyy Digital's Knowledge TV, from 8 pm to 9pm, to viewers in Greater Accra, Eastern, Western, Central and Ashanti regions.

Believing that grassroots businesses should be at the heart of the Brand Ghana initiative, the show's formulators aim to:

• Encourage entrepreneurship among young Ghanaians since it is a sure way to address the issue of unemployment, national development and economic liberation.
• Provide a platform for educating the young Ghanaian about running businesses and the opportunities that abounds in our country.
• Showcase young businesses with the potential of making it in industry so as to expose them to potential customers and investors.

Da Young Entrepreneur show has two carefully crafted segments to achieve these aims:

Mentoring: This segment features a successful business person who will equip viewers with enough information of the business terrain as well as the right approach to achieving their goals.

Entrepreneur Showcase: this segment features young Ghanaians who are running legitimate money making projects and businesses. This will motivate many other young entrepreneurs who are determined to succeed in the business world.

Da Young Entrepreneur is a brainchild of iROKKO Concepts, a brand management and marketing company, and Skyy Digital TV. It will be hosted by Donald Diaba, who is the CEO of iROKKO Concepts.

Related articles

• What are ways for a young entrepreneur to gain credibility with potential investors? (teachstreet.com)
• 10 Famous Young Entrepreneurs (mademan.com)
• 10 Great Books for Teaching Kids Entrepreneurial Skills (brighthub.com)
• 10 Young Black Entrepreneurs (mademan.com)