Ashaiman was buzzing on Saturday, July 5th like, actually alive with excitement. Hundreds of young folks rolled in for the premiere of three short films cooked up by the Ghana Grows crew. You’ve got Mastercard Foundation and Springboard Road Show Foundation teaming up, with Meraki Arts Africa bringing the creative juice. Basically, the whole thing was about flipping the script on how young Ghanaians see farming and agribusiness. Spoiler: it’s not just about mud and old dudes with hoes.
The films Meraki Arts handled writing and production weren’t shy about smashing old stereotypes around agriculture and ATVET (that’s Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training, in case you missed the memo). These stories zeroed in on real people, real transformations, actual purpose. No sugarcoating.
Comfort Ocran (she’s the boss at Springboard Road Show Foundation) summed up the evening perfectly: “This wasn’t just a film premiere. It changed the game. Stories can unlock confidence, shake up old thinking, and get a fresh crowd looking at agriculture and ATVET as legit, creative careers.” Honestly? Couldn’t have said it better myself.
And then you’ve got Adjetey Anann a total legend who jumped in the series. He was all about the vibe and brains the young filmmakers brought to the table. He said, “It’s more than entertainment, it’s about identity, dignity, and the future we’re building together.” A little dramatic maybe, but hey, he’s got a point.
The crowd? Massive. Youth from all over Ashaiman (and even outside), media types, big names from the creative scene, plus the usual important peeps. After the films, everyone dove into a panel talk. The cast and crew got real about their journey, why storytelling matters, and how it actually changes minds.
Why Ashaiman? Easy. The place is crawling with young energy and has a track record of getting things done. Seriously, if you want to spark change, why not go straight to where it’ll catch fire?
So, Ghana Grows pushed by Springboard Road Show Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation keeps rolling out programs across the country. They’re dead set on showing that agriculture and ATVET aren’t just fallback options they’re modern, respected career moves for young Ghanaians. With creative partners like Meraki Arts Africa and Lyme Haus in the mix, it’s all about changing mindsets, building skills, and giving the next generation a shot at something big.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, Ghana Grows is a Mastercard Foundation initiative, run by Springboard Road Show Foundation. Lyme Haus jumps in as a key partner, with a whole crew of collaborators Axis Human Capital, Meraki Arts Africa, Light for the World, Ghana Psychological Association, Young & Vibe, FAGE, GNTDA, FDA, GHABA… basically, a dream team of organizations making sure this thing actually works.