Total Petroleum Ghana Limited, one of Ghana’s leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has climaxed its maiden edition of the “StartUpper of the Year” contest with an awards ceremony in Accra.

The contest launched in the last quarter of 2015, seeks to unearth and support young and budding entrepreneurs with financial packages and coaching packages.

Three winners namely Joshua Ayinbora of JE&F Company Limited, Eunice Owusu-Karikari of E-Juice Company Limited and Salma Abdulai of Unique Quality Product Enterprise were adjudged the best contestants at the end of a grueling pitching session.

The three took home a whopping ¢160,000 and a year-long coaching programme for their businesses to be sponsored by Total Petroleum Ghana Limited.

Commenting on the selection of the three finalists for the contest, Olivier Van Parys, Managing Director of Total Petroleum Ghana Limited expressed his joy at the level of interest and participation in the “StartUpper” contest by the youth of Ghana.

“This demonstrates clearly that the youth of Ghana are ready and able to create jobs for themselves”, Van Parys said.

Whilst commending the three finalists for emerging the eventual winners of the competition, he further asked the other seven finalists not to give up on their projects but to endeavor to see them through.

The “Startupper of the Year by Total” Challenge held in 34 African countries is part of Total’s overall policy of supporting the socio-economic development of all its host countries worldwide.

It is a very concrete initiative to help strengthen the industrial base and employment opportunities in the participating countries by helping the boldest and innovative entrepreneurs carry out their projects.

The contest aims to foster new initiatives in Africa while upholding Total’s core values.

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