13 Cities and a Whole Lot of Impact: My 2025 Barcamp Ghana Journey

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For 17 years, Barcamp Ghana has been more than just a series of events; it has been a movement. As I lead the GhanaThink Foundation, our mission remains steadfast: to build a critical mass of youth who are patriotic, passionate, positive, proactive, progressive, and productive. In 2025, this GhanaThink program took this mission across 13 cities, proving that when changemakers, doers, entrepreneurs and innovators gather, the impact is undeniable.

A Transformative Year for Innovation

The theme for 2025—"Impact | Innovation | Quality"—was a deliberate step toward intentional action. For Impact, we highlighted corporate social responsibility and local initiatives. For Innovation, we celebrated entrepreneurs, including those who shared one-minute pitches. For Quality, we focused on the quality of youth #inGhana, quality #MadeInGhana products to the air we breathe via the #CleanAirGhana campaign.

Throughout the year, I had the privilege of joining our local teams on the ground at every single stop. I personally moderated the #KonnectKouch at all 13 Barcamps, interviewing 26 incredible personalities based in those localities. 

The 2025 Barcamp Train: 13 Cities of Impact

We moved through the 10 original regional capitals, plus Kasoa, Tema, and Somanya. Here is how the year unfolded:

  • Wa (May 10): We kicked off with 400 participants, the largest turnout of the edition. I moderated the session with Maria Johana Yuorpor and Lawyer Shakur.

  • Cape Coast (June 28): Held at the GNAT Hall, where I sat down with Stephen Moore and Victoria Tuffour Oteng.

  • Tema (July 12): With 300 participants, we engaged partners like Unilever and Wilmar Africa. On the Konnect Kouch, I hosted Anthonia Fesu and Felix Nartey.

  • Tamale (July 26): 360 participants joined us to hear from Peter Awin and Ruka Yaro.

  • Ho (August 2): Returning to UHAS, it was heartening to see past Barcampers return as mentors. I interviewed Princess Lovia Tetteh & Togbe Kludzehe on the kouch.

  • Sunyani (August 9): Our biggest event there yet with 400+ people, including a record 30+ Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). I spoke with Kofi Vinyo and Mariama Iddrisu Joosten.

  • Somanya (August 16): We returned after a Covid hiatus to host 120+ people in partnership with Verdant Global.

  • Takoradi (August 23): Our largest Takoradi event ever featured 250+ participants and multiple local innovators. Chelsey Sey and Emmanuel Okyere joined me on the kouch.

  • Bolga (September 27): In the midst of many social enterprises, I interviewed Fati Abigail Abdulai and Daniel Nang.

  • Koforidua (October 11): Past mentors like AJ Willz supported us as I moderated the panel with him and Fadilatu Ahmed Tijani.

  • Kasoa (October 18): Back at West End University College, where I hosted Abdul Muizz Abass and Harriet Bayel.

  • Kumasi (November 8): A record-breaking 290+ participants gathered at HapaSpace. I interviewed Gideon Brefo and Gloria Akuamoah Boateng.

  • Accra (December 20): Our "Mother Christmas" finale featured Bernard Avle and Elsie Effah Kaufmann, while introducing the EventIsLive platform.



Sustaining the Vision through Partnerships

Our work is fueled by organizations that believe in Ghanaian youth. We saw a major operational shift this year, moving registrations to eGoTickets, a Ghanaian-owned platform started by former Barcampers. The major National Level partners included Clean Air Fund, Petra (Achieve), Hubtel, Africa's Talking and Baobab Entrepreneur. New milestones were also reached in 2025: UBA Bank became our first major commercial bank partner, and Ahantaman Rural Bank became our first rural bank partner.

We are especially grateful for our multiple-year partners who have stood by us through the years:

  • Education and Innovation: Hopin Academy, Noni Hub, WAN-Hive Ghana, and HapaSpace (partnering since 2016).

  • Logistics and Hospitality: Eusbett Hotel, Sannak Hotel, TAP Hotel, and Nuoyong Empire Hotel.

  • Media and Outreach: Citi 97.3 FM, Channel1TV, Dreamz FM, A1 Radio, and Nyimdzii Multimedia.

  • Community and Support: Cowtribe, Mara Foods, Green Leaf Eatery, and the Rotaract Club of Tema.

The Soul of Barcamp: Mentorship

The "Speed Mentoring" session remains the favorite of our participants, with rounds of intense, 8-minute interactions. In 2025, we engaged over 300 mentors across all sectors. It was inspiring to see first-time mentors—many of whom were once participants themselves—stepping up to lead. As our Barcamp Ghana Resources Lead, Irene Ali Dery, observed, there is a visible, growing desire among our youth to create solutions that impact lives far beyond our borders.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With over 150 Barcamps organized and 27,000+ participants since 2008, we are just getting started. As we at GhanaThink plan for 2026, we are using the feedback from 3,000+ impacted youth in 2025 to ensure even more efficient and high-impact events.

Barcamp Ghana is about building your network, regardless of which city or circle you find yourself in. I look forward to seeing you on the "Barcamp train" in 2026 as we continue to move from inspiration to action.

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