The facility, built in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and Kosmos Energy, houses six specialised ultra-modern laboratory facilities, a training space, washrooms, a security post and others.

The six specialised laboratories are the Food Innovation Lab, Electronics Lab, Mechatronics Lab, Computer Design Lab, Metal Fabrication Lab and the Woodwork Lab.

These laboratories are equipped with modern sophisticated product developing machines to support youth entrepreneurs, creators and innovators to practicalised their business ideas to life.

The laboratories were built specifically for product development to transform Ghana’s agricultural and industrial system, and the training space has the capacity to contain 100 to 150 individuals.

Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, the Executive Director of KIC, Ghana, described the facility, which occupied a two-plot of land area, as a world-class makerspace, and a  playground for innovators and creators.

According to him, through the construction of the facility, KIC had realized its bold vision to make Ghana a hub of practical innovation, youth-driven creativity and a home-grown technological excellence.

Mr. Gyan-Kesse said the hardware centre of excellence was a complete ecosystem, which would benefit KIC beneficiaries of the AgriTech Challenge and Business Incubation programmes.

Also, the facility would serve external innovators, students and entrepreneurs from across the country, who sought to build tangible solutions for Ghana’s agricultural and industrial landscape.

Mr. Gyan-Kesse acknowledged the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation and Kosmos Energy in the construction of the facility.

“We are creating more than a building; we are building bridges. Bridges that connect digital ideas to physical reality. Bridges that connect Ghanaian innovation to global opportunity,” he said.

Nana Joe Mensah, the Board Chairman of the KIC, said the construction of the facility showed what could be achieved through partnership and collaboration.

“It demonstrates what can be achieved when the private sector, development partners and the government institutions align behind a shared purpose to equip young people with the capacity to lead change," he said.

Nana Mensah called on the government, academia, development agencies and the private sector to join them to expand access, deepen impact and ensure that the facility became a national resource for innovation across every sector.