We invite you to attend the doctoral dissertation defence of Bernard Kwamena Cobbina Essel focusing on youth entrepreneurship, agricultural value chains, and rural development in Ghana, with the title “Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Food Value Chains: The Case of Ghana” (Department of Economics and Development, Sustainable Rural Development). Come and learn how mentoring, innovation, and value-added food production can strengthen young agri-food enterprises and improve resilience in times of crisis. Thesis defence will take place on 29th May 2026, 11:00 a.m., meeting room 401 (building FTZ).
This study examines how young entrepreneurs operating small food enterprises in Ghana can be better supported to improve business performance, withstand crises, and create greater value from agricultural products. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a survey of 244 youth-led agri-food enterprises with qualitative interviews, econometric analysis, and financial feasibility assessment. The findings show that mentoring, business association membership, and prior entrepreneurial experience significantly enhance profits and employment growth, while formal credit access was negatively associated with performance. Enterprises that received government-subsidised loans recorded higher profits and employment, while businesses that maintained financial records and adopted digital tools demonstrated stronger resilience during crises. The study also finds that artisanal chocolate production is financially viable and offers strong potential for value addition in Ghana. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for strengthening youth enterprise support, improving credit systems, and advancing agricultural industrialisation policies in Ghana.
We warmly invite faculty members, students, and the public to join this defence.