Northern Ghana holds immense potential. With programmes like Igniting Dreams, more young people are stepping forward with ideas and courage to build businesses that matter.
Igniting Dreams 2026: Support for Young Entrepreneurs in Northern Ghana
The Coalition for Positive Impact (CPI) has opened applications for the 2026 Igniting Dreams Fellowship, a programme that aims to help young business owners grow sustainable ventures across Northern Ghana. The initiative is part of CPI’s long-term effort to support youth entrepreneurship and create jobs in underserved communities.
Since 2019, the Igniting Dreams programme has reached over 5,000 young people in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East regions. Through various editions, it has provided seed funding and business development support to 50 promising entrepreneurs and helped create more than 400 job opportunities.
The 2026 edition marks a significant expansion of the fellowship. This year’s programme aims to equip a new cohort of youth with knowledge, tools and networks that help them refine their business models and build ventures that are ready for growth. You can start your application by visiting the fellowship page.
What the Igniting Dreams Fellowship Offers
The Igniting Dreams Fellowship is a structured, three-month programme that combines online training with practical learning. Selected entrepreneurs between 15 and 35 years old will take part in hybrid sessions that sharpen their business skills. The programme ends with a one-week in-person boot camp in Wa, Ghana.
During the fellowship, participants will work on key business fundamentals. These include business model refinement, financial planning, pitch preparation, and building investor-ready strategies. The aim is to help entrepreneurs make their ventures stronger and scalable.
A key part of the programme is the Igniting Dreams Summit. This event brings together fellows, mentors, funders, and industry partners. It offers a chance for young founders to showcase their ventures, exchange ideas, and build connections with potential investors and partners.
At the Summit, participants will also compete for the Igniting Dreams Prize. Every fellow receives funding. However, the top performing fellows will receive larger seed capital awards and priority access to an accelerator programme designed to strengthen their business models and expand their reach.
Who Should Apply
The fellowship is open to young entrepreneurs in Northern Ghana. To qualify, applicants must meet this criteria:
• They must be between 15 and 35 years old by March 2026.
• Their business must have been established within the past three years.
• Their venture must operate primarily in or originate from Northern Ghana.
• They should be ready to commit to both online training and the physical boot camp.
• Their business should have potential to create jobs and scale beyond its current state.
• Young women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The programme welcomes applicants from many industries. These include agribusiness, fashion, technology, education, healthcare, creative industries, and green energy. Businesses do not have to be registered to apply. However, they must be registered before the final bootcamp to continue with funding and follow-up support.
Why This Matters
Northern Ghana has long faced economic challenges. Many communities struggle with high youth unemployment and limited access to capital or business support. CPI’s Igniting Dreams Fellowship works to bridge these gaps by providing practical skills and funding that help small businesses become sustainable.
Local leaders say this kind of support matters. Entrepreneurs from previous editions have gone on to secure additional funding, create jobs and support their communities. In some cases, they built entirely new business sectors where none existed before.
One example is a young entrepreneur who received early support through the programme and later raised significant capital to expand her farming and processing operations. Her business now employs dozens of local workers and creates income for hundreds of community members.
Another example is a branding agency that grew from humble beginnings into a service provider for local and regional brands. With support from Igniting Dreams, the founder expanded his skills and network and now offers training sessions to other young creatives in the region.
These stories show how targeted support can turn small ventures into engines of local growth and opportunity.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026 Igniting Dreams Fellowship opened on January 1, 2026, and will close on January 31, 2026. Interested entrepreneurs can apply online through the official CPI website.
The application process requires basic business information, a CV or resume, details of two referees, and an application form. Applicants are also asked to submit a short business video summarising their venture, its mission, and its impact goals.
CPI encourages all eligible founders to complete their applications early. This gives candidates more time to gather the right materials and prepare compelling submissions.
Building a Strong Business Future
Igniting Dreams is more than funding. It connects young founders to networks of mentors, investors, and peers that help them grow even after the fellowship ends. Fellows automatically become members of the Niibala Alliance, a lifelong network of entrepreneurs and supporters dedicated to shared success.
The programme aligns with CPI’s long-term vision to develop thousands of leaders and support millions of jobs across Ghana. CPI’s mission is to nurture youth entrepreneurs into people who can build thriving businesses and stronger communities.
For the 2026 cohort, the Igniting Dreams Fellowship promises to deepen these efforts. Young founders who complete the programme will leave with improved business models, stronger networks, and real funding to fuel their next stage of growth.
Words from the Field
The initiative is truly for entrepreneurs who are solving the problems their communities face. It is about creating dignity, independence, and lasting change in communities that need opportunity most. Past fellows echo this view. Many say the support they received gave them clarity about their purpose and the confidence to scale their work.
Their stories show that when young people have access to resources and guidance, they can build ventures that benefit not only themselves but their families and neighbours.
Looking Ahead
Northern Ghana holds immense potential. With programmes like Igniting Dreams, more young people are stepping forward with ideas and courage to build businesses that matter.
If you are a young entrepreneur in Northern Ghana today, this opportunity could be the next step in your journey. Take time to prepare your materials, tell your story clearly, and submit your application before the deadline. Your business could be on its way to growth, jobs, and a brighter future.
Subscribe to MDBrief
Clean insights, a bit of sarcasm, and zero boring headlines.
