Despite the growing demand for renewable energy solutions across the country, many skilled young technicians face barriers such as limited access to startup capital, business development support, equipment, and market opportunities. As a result, valuable technical skills often remain underutilized, while communities continue to face gaps in access to quality solar products and services.
To address this challenge, Swisscontact Ghana, with funding support from the Arthur Waser Foundation and in partnership with the Don Bosco Solar Institute and the Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals Association of Ghana (CEWPAG), has launched AyaSol, a youth-centred initiative designed to transform technical skills into sustainable solar enterprises.
AyaSol is more than a renewable energy project. It is an entrepreneurship pathway that enables young people to become business owners, create employment opportunities, and contribute to Ghana's transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy.
The idea behind AyaSol emerged from a recurring challenge observed among graduates of the Don Bosco Solar Institute's Solar PV Advanced Professional Course. While graduates acquired strong technical competencies, many struggled to secure employment or establish businesses due to a lack of financial and entrepreneurial support.
AyaSol was developed to bridge this gap.
The initiative combines technical expertise, entrepreneurship development, mentorship, market access, and financing support to help young people successfully launch and grow solar businesses within their communities.
At the centre of this approach is AyaSol Seed, an innovative business incubation model that supports selected graduates to establish and operate their own solar enterprises.
Through AyaSol Seed, entrepreneurs receive business and financial management training under the PowerUp programme, access to mentorship, and operational support to run solar retail and service outlets. Each entrepreneur is equipped with a dedicated business space and stocked inventory, enabling them to immediately begin serving customers while building sustainable businesses.
The model allows young entrepreneurs not only to generate income but also to expand access to affordable and reliable solar solutions in underserved communities.
A distinguishing feature of AyaSol Seed is its revolving support mechanism, designed to ensure the initiative's long-term sustainability and scalability.
As participating entrepreneurs grow their businesses and repay portions of the support received, resources are reinvested to support future cohorts of young solar entrepreneurs. This creates a cycle of opportunity that extends the project's impact beyond its initial beneficiaries.
By combining entrepreneurship, technical expertise, and sustainable financing mechanisms, AyaSol seeks to build a stronger and more resilient renewable energy ecosystem in Ghana.
Swisscontact Ghana officially launched AyaSol during the AGI Sustainable Energy B2B Expo in Accra, bringing together key stakeholders from the renewable energy sector, private industry, government institutions, development organisations, and financial institutions.
The launch provided an opportunity to showcase the AyaSol Seed model through live demonstrations and exhibitions, offering participants first-hand insight into how youth-led solar enterprises can operate successfully while creating jobs and delivering renewable energy solutions.
AyaSol forms part of Swisscontact Ghana's Renewable Energy Pillar, which focuses on promoting green jobs, strengthening skills development, and supporting inclusive economic growth through sustainable energy solutions.
By empowering young people to move from technical training to successful entrepreneurship, AyaSol contributes to addressing youth unemployment while strengthening local renewable energy markets and expanding access to clean energy technologies.
As Ghana continues its transition towards a greener future, initiatives such as AyaSol demonstrate how targeted investments in skills, entrepreneurship, and partnerships can create lasting economic and social impact.
For Swisscontact Ghana, AyaSol represents more than the launch of a new initiative,it represents a commitment to unlocking opportunities for young people and enabling them to become drivers of Ghana's renewable energy transformation.