by Sherif Ghali, Founder and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs
My Journey Since AGYLE
Since participating in AGYLE, I have experienced significant growth in leadership and influence across Ghana's entrepreneurship and youth development landscape. The exposure, network, and mentorship from AGYLE strengthened my ability to scale initiatives and shape national policy conversations.
I was appointed Member of the Ministerial Advisory Board for the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and to the Board of the National Youth Authority (NYA), where I contribute to national youth policy implementation. I also serve as Acting President of the Ghana Youth Federation, Ghana's newly inaugurated apex youth body.
Under my leadership, the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) expanded into a national voice representing over 5,000 youth-led enterprises. I spearheaded the National Business Agenda on Youth and Women Entrepreneurship and led the Ghana Innovation and Startup Bill process as a member of the National Technical Working Committee. GCYE's flagship programme, YES2025, gained national recognition for its policy dialogue outcomes.
Beyond Ghana, I serve as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – Africa (CAYE Africa), coordinating regional collaboration. Through AGYLE, my approach shifted from programmatic leadership to strategic policy influence, enabling me to bridge youth voices with decision-making at both national and continental levels.
How AGYLE Shaped My Work
AGYLE gave me a broader Pan-African perspective on collaboration, leadership, and impact. After AGYLE, I led the National Business Agenda on Youth and Women Entrepreneurship, a multi-stakeholder initiative uniting policymakers, development partners, and private sector actors. The approach was influenced by AGYLE's emphasis on co-creation and systems thinking.
Through connections made during the programme, I established working relationships with peers from Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, opening doors for cross-border entrepreneurship exchanges. AGYLE also deepened my appreciation for leadership rooted in empathy, data, and collective intelligence, which now guides my advocacy for evidence-based policies that create real opportunities for young people.
I have maintained active engagement with AGYLE fellows through mentorship, joint initiatives, and ecosystem linkages, connecting them to government and institutional leaders in Ghana. AGYLE built a trusted community that continues to shape how I engage and collaborate beyond borders.
Looking Forward: An Africa–Europe Young Entrepreneurs Alliance
I want to explore the creation of an Africa–Europe Young Entrepreneurs Alliance under the AGYLE framework to strengthen collaboration between young business leaders across both regions through structured dialogue, knowledge exchange, and joint innovation.
The initiative would facilitate business partnerships in green innovation, digital trade, and youth-led MSME development, create a mentorship and investment bridge connecting African entrepreneurs to European expertise and markets, and host joint summits to shape inclusive entrepreneurship policies. A digital platform would showcase projects and success stories across both continents.
This alliance would institutionalize the AGYLE spirit of cooperation, helping transform connections into lasting partnerships that drive sustainable growth and mutual prosperity.
