[Business Trip to Accra 🇬🇭] From impact investing to digital innovation and historical heritage : a transformative journey for Comman-ya entrepreneurs

In February 2025, COMMAN-YA and its participants took part in an exceptional business trip to Accra, Ghana. More than just a business trip, this immersive experience was a true human and entrepreneurial adventure: meetings with key players in impact investing, discovering innovative organizations, cultural exchanges, and a return to the continent’s historical roots.

From the very first meetings, the delegation had the opportunity to engage with the core team at Impact Investing Ghana, a fund committed to transforming Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Their ambitious and holistic approach is based on :

• the creation of funds of funds,

• support for Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs),

• capacity building for fund managers,

• the organization of pitch competitions,

• the development of business angel networks,

• as well as advocacy efforts with regulators and pension funds.

These discussions helped the female entrepreneurs understand that impact capital can be a powerful catalyst for accelerating their projects.

From June 11 to 13, 2025, Accra will host the 3rd Africa Impact Summit, a must-attend event to further these discussions.

Lesson of the day: Trust as currency

During meetings with SOLNetwork, OpenCapital, and LumiereGroup, one message stood out : trust is an economic value. Building strong partnerships with customers, suppliers, and employees is essential for growing a business.

As today’s saying goes: “Trust is worth money.”

A Deep Dive into Innovation: Soronko Academy and ALX Africa

Another highlight was a visit to two pioneering incubators in the fields of digital technology and entrepreneurship in Africa :

• Soronko Academy, which has been training women and girls in digital professions for several years, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly expanding sector.

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• ALX Africa, founded by the Ghanaian visionary Fred Swaniker, supports recent graduates in building pan-African tech startups by facilitating access to funding.

The participants were impressed by the youth of the project leaders and the maturity of the programs, which in some cases surpass those of Francophone ecosystems. A true source of inspiration for accelerating digital transformation in West Africa.

A Cultural Immersion : Between Entrepreneurship and Collective Memory

The trip wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at Nyaniba Market, a creative pop-up run by Pamela, where the participants interacted with local female designers in a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere.

Nor would it have been complete without a memorable visit to Osu Castle, a 17th-century fortress that bears witness to the history of trade, slavery, and colonization. This visit served as a reminder that African entrepreneurship is rooted in a history of resilience and intergenerational transmission.

This business trip was made possible thanks to the support of Banque Atlantique Côte d’Ivoire, as well as Maison 5 Étoiles, La Passion des Voyages, and Diagnostic Vital. Their support helped bring to life a unique experience that inspired, connected, and transformed the participants.

This trip to Accra was a true immersion in the best that Africa has to offer: impact, innovation, and historical memory. The Comman-ya returned with a strengthened conviction: to build the future, we must invest in trust, draw inspiration from innovations, and remain connected to our history.

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