MASO is a five year programme, focused on creating employment opportunities for the youth (aged 18-25) in Ghana’s cocoa communities.
Most youth in rural areas usually have limited opportunities to find jobs or start a business. For youth, in the cocoa-producing communities where the Next Generation Cocoa Programme (MASO) operates, the story is different.
Through the MASO Business Academy, youth are trained to become entrepreneurs in their communities. The objective of the Business Academy is to help participants identify and engage with local employment opportunities.
The MASO Business Academy (business incubator) seeks to train and support youth interested in starting businesses along the cocoa production chain or businesses that will enhance the life and general well-being of cocoa-growing communities.
Through a partnership with Ashesi University, the youth are trained to create employment opportunities for themselves in their cocoa-producing communities.
The youth are trained with an entrepreneurship with module developed by Ashesi University to facilitate a process for young people in cocoa communities to launch businesses and refine their business models.
The Business Academy
The MASO Business Academy (business incubator) seeks to train and support youth interested in starting businesses along the cocoa production chain or businesses that will enhance the life and general well-being of cocoa growing communities.
MASO engages experienced entrepreneurs and business/ management consultants to volunteer as mentors to the young entrepreneurs. The mentors assist MASO to ensure, mentees develop the necessary skills; are exposed to opportunities within the spaces they are exploring businesses in; are aware of available resources, and can make appropriate business decisions.
The youth are assisted to explore opportunities within their communities, build and test their business models, and receive support to kick off their ventures.
All the participants in the Business Academy also go through the Cocoa Academy to learn about cocoa production as a business. This is intended to grow their interest in agriculture and the cocoa value chain.
MASO Business Graduates
MASO Business Academy mount exhibition of services and products
Recently in Kasapin in the Asunafo North District of the Ahafo Region and Sefwi Elluokrom, Bia West District in West North Region, 219 young men and women mounted an exhibition after successfully going through the programme over a year-long period.
Elizabeth Kuffour displaying her soap
Andrews Fosu displaying his wares
