Ex-Ghana international and former captain of the Black Stars, Stephen ‘Tornado’ Appiah has been named the ambassador for Total Ghana’s ‘StartUpper of the Year’ challenge. The challenge, the maiden edition, is a Corporate Social.

Responsibility (CRS) contest launched recently by the oil marketing giant and aimed at unearthing and nurturing young and budding entrepreneurs in the country. At stake is a mouth-watering financial reward meant to be split by the three finalists plus a coaching programme for the winners. The winners get to also have the enviable ‘StartUpper of the Year’ tag for the year 2016.

The choice of the former Black Stars playmaker as the face of the contest was informed by his inspiring life story guided by his determination, perseverance and strong-will which have resulted in the successes he has achieved both on and off the pitch.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘StartUpper Challenge’ recently at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Appiah expressed his delight at being named the ambassador for the challenge.

He recalled his humble beginnings and the stunning heights he attained in soccer and implored the youth in the country to learn from his experiences in life. From a humble career start at local club Accra Hearts of Oak, Appiah’s career took him to renowned soccer clubs like Udinese, Brescia, Parma and Juventus all in Italy; and Fenerbahce in Turkey making him one of the most celebrated soccer stars in Ghana’s history. His story thus represents a life manual for every youth with aspirations in any endeavor.

Ghana is among 34 countries in Africa selected to roll out the ‘StartUpper Challenge’. The contest is opened to the youth below the age of 35 with an innovative project yet to be launched or one that is already in existence but not older than two years. Prospective participants in the competition will have to upload their projects on the ‘StartUpper’ contest’s dedicated website www.startupper.total.com for them to be vetted and selected if they meet the necessary criteria.

From the thousands of names that are expected to apply, the list will be sieved to thirty by a jury made up of renowned industrialists, business operators and personality coaches. This will then be shortlisted to ten who will then be put through a residential coaching and mentoring programme at the end of which they will pitch their projects before an audience and the best three projects and their proponents named and celebrated.