#MEET VILLACANE

#MEET VILLACANE

This is a short interview we conducted with Felix Senunyeme, the founder of ''VILLACANE”. If you like the concept of this idea and would like to vote for it, click HERE.

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1. What is your background? (Nationality, age, education, field of work).

I am a 29 year old Ghanaian. I completed Ho Polytechnic in Ghana with a Higher National Diploma in Accounting. I also have a verified certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland through an online course on Coursera. I currently work as a Business Analyst with a consultancy firm in Ghana, Elitrust Finecon.

2. Describe your idea or project in two sentences.

VILLACANE seeks to add value to sugarcane and its bye-products by converting them into beneficial and economically viable products utilizing environmentally friendly production and processing technologies. When successfully implemented, VILLACANE will, in its first year, process and market high-quality, fresh, hygienic and affordable sugarcane juice to refresh persons of all age groups whilst creating ready market for sugarcane farmers and employment opportunities for the youth.

3. What are the benefits you take from the Entrepreneurship Campus?

The Campus has helped improve my knowledge in Entrepreneurship and has also widened my social network.

4. What motivates you to be an entrepreneur?

For personal achievement and the desire to leave my mark on the world.

5. Imagine you have ‚supreme power’ to create and innovate: how would your world look like? What changes would you like to make in your community and/or in the world? Share your thoughts from a ‚supreme power’ and entrepreneur standpoint.

Having a supreme power as an entrepreneur means I am afforded the chance to do what I like. It means that I have everything that's needed to implement my plans. I believe in a community where the citizens have a means by which they can earn income, many social vices e.g. armed robbery will be eradicated to its barest minimum. Hence providing jobs and other opportunities in my community through, e.g. ideas such as VILLACANE, I will end up creating a peaceful and congenial atmosphere for human habitation.

6. What would you say to potential voters who may be reading your interview?

Currently, an estimated 250,000mt of sugarcane is produced annually with over 20km² of land still available for cultivation in the Keta Municipality alone. The crop currently has a single use in Ghana, the distillation of a local gin.

With the recent change in taste from alcohol consumption especially among the youth, who formed the larger market for gin in the past, several farmers have been kicked out of business.

My idea "AN INTEGRATED SUGARCANE PROCESSING UNIT (VILLACANE SUGARCANE PROCESSING COMPANY)” aims at addressing the perennial loss players along the sugarcane value chain are facing.

The idea is also aimed at addressing the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals as follows;

Goal 1: No Poverty

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Hence, a vote for VILLACANE is a vote for changing and transforming lives in the Keta District in the Volta Region of Ghana.

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• NOTICE: If you want to see more submitted ideas and projects at the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, visit BEST IDEAS and BEST PROJECTS and VOTE for the ones you think deserve to WIN the Competition!