Members of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), community, Somanya, Eastern Region are celebrating a remarkable international achievement as its student-led innovation team, Eastside Sankofa Industries Ghana, emerged victorious at the Nkabom Africa Case Competition 2026 finals, streamed live from Montreal, Canada.
The award-winning team, Aaron Tawiah Blagodzi (BSc. Energy and Resource Economics), Benjamin Ansu Anyame (BSc. Sustainable Development), and Godson Etsri (BSc. Energy Sustainability)-distinguished themselves among a highly competitive pool of global finalists to secure the top prize.
The UESD team scored 309 points to outperform top contenders, including KNUST,, Arizona State University, University of Cambridge, and Princeton University.
The UESD team impressed judges with an innovative, agriculture-based solution focused on leveraging mango production within the Somanya enclave. Their project proposes the development of high-value products such as mango puree, mango cookies, and juice. The initiative directly addresses key challenges in Ghana’s food systems by reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing food security, and creating sustainable employment opportunities. When scaled, the solution has the potential to significantly transform the local mango value chain.
For their outstanding performance, the team was awarded a cash prize of CAD 10 thousand to support the implementation of their proposal. Other finalist teams received prizes ranging from CAD seven thousand 500 to CAD one thousand 500. All five finalist teams will also benefit from continued mentorship by industry experts within the manufacturing sector.
The Nkabom initiative, meaning “togetherness” in Akan,is a ten-year programme designed to create dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for three million Ghanaian youth by 2030. Spearheaded by McGill University in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and six Ghanaian institutions, the collaborative aims to transform Ghana’s nutrition and agri-food ecosystem through innovation, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning.
Speaking at the event, the Director of the Nkabom Collaborative Secretariat at McGill University, Mr. Pierre Brunache Jr., highlighted the initiative’s ambitious targets, including the creation of 50 thousand dignified jobs, three thousand enterprises, and expanded opportunities for youth through education, mentorship, and industry partnerships.