Since early 2024, MDF West Africa with funding from the World Resources Institute (WRI) has supported 45 entrepreneurs in the Ghana Cocoa Belt; 27 in incubation and 18 in acceleration, through Land Accelerator Program. Participants received training in business strategy, financial planning, sustainable agriculture, and investor readiness, along with one-on-one mentorship. MDF also supported the entrepreneurs in preparing pitch decks, refining financials, and communicating business value. This programme is part of the WRI Land Accelerator Ghana Cocoa Belt programme which is part of a larger effort under AFR100, which seeks to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land across Africa by 2030.
As part of the support provided, WRI organized a Demo Day that brought together early- and growth-stage entrepreneurs from the Land Accelerator Ghana Cocoa Belt program, along with investors, ecosystem partners, and business support organizations. The Demo Day was used as an opportunity to showcase businesses that are tackling land degradation through sustainable practices and to connect them with the relevant ecosystem partners including investor within the restoration space.
For many of the companies, this was their first opportunity to present their ventures, ranging from agroforestry to sustainable cocoa production to such an audience.
"Seeing these entrepreneurs stand confidently before a room full of investors, articulating bold ideas rooted in sustainability, was truly inspiring," said Richard Yeboah, the Managing Director of MDF Global. "Their growth tells what targeted support and the right networks can do”
"Our goal is to make sure these businesses are ready, not just to pitch, but to grow," said Ekow Akyin Kwofie, an associate of MDF West Africa.
"These ventures aren’t just environmentally relevant, they’re commercially viable," another investor noted.
Enoch Gyimah, CEO of Dortnoch Ltd, a participant of the programme also shared how the training helped shape the direction of his business. “The training helped us redesign our business model and rewrite our business plan in a way that makes our enterprise more sustainable. It was holistic, touching on every part of business management. I’d recommend it to anyone working in the land restoration space.”
The support doesn't end there. MDF will continue to provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and guidance on legal and operational matters as the entrepreneurs move forward.
In Ghana, MDF’s work on the Land Accelerator Programme is focused on turning restoration into real livelihoods, where environmental and economic outcomes go hand in hand.
