On Thursday 18th October, the Meltwater Entrepreneurship School of Technology (MEST Africa) hosted a collaborative event with the Mastercard Foundation to review and celebrate the achievements of their five-year partnership.
The gathering was a convergence of innovators, and stakeholders eager to explore the advancements made over the years and to anticipate the future of transformative technologies in Ghana.
Olufemi Adewumi, Programs Director at MEST Africa, delivered the opening remarks, setting the tone for a reflective yet forward-looking discussion. He commended the partnership between MEST and Mastercard Foundation for driving impactful entrepreneurship initiatives in Ghana’s tech ecosystem.
Following the welcome address, Rica Rwigamba, Country Director at the Mastercard Foundation, took to the stage. She emphasized the importance of building strong entrepreneurial foundations that equip young innovators in Africa with the tools and resources to thrive in the digital economy.
She further noted how pivotal the collaboration with MEST has been in fostering the growth of the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.
Mica Woode, Research and Impact Lead, presented highlights of the key achievements over the past five years. Her presentation showcased the success stories of entrepreneurs who had passed through MEST’s rigorous training programs and how the support from Mastercard Foundation had enabled them to launch thriving tech startups. She highlighted the rise of innovative solutions addressing challenges across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and financial services.
Following the presentation, the event’s host, Stephen Adomako, moderated a fireside chat that delved deeper into the partnership’s impact. During this session, they officially launched a new report titled “The State of Transformative Technologies in Ghana“, produced by MEST Africa. The report covers emerging tech trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and extended reality (XR) that are shaping the future of innovation in Ghana.
The highlight of the event was a panel discussion centered on transformative technologies, including AI, Web3, gaming, and extended reality (XR).
Industry experts including Rashida Musa (AI Integration specialist), Mary Okwong (Mowblox), Prince Twuasmi Osei (Leti Arts), and Selasie Awity (Dobiison) discussed how these technologies are being applied within the African context and what the future holds for Ghana’s growing tech ecosystem.
The event concluded with remarks on the lasting impact of the partnership between MEST and Mastercard Foundation. Attendees then participated in breakout sessions where they brainstormed on the role of future technologies in driving economic and social development in Ghana.
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