How do i begin a post about an award i never dreamed of? I honestly have no idea but then i would want to share with you how it felt to be selected as a Ghana Innovation Hero by #InnovationGhana a new initiative by the Ministry of Trade & Industry supported by Google. It was my online craft shop RootsbyNaa which won this award in recognition of my use of the Internet to develop solutions to socio-economic issues in Ghana. I created this online shop to give access to clients who due to distance, time and work issues are unable to go shopping for much needed accessories. Traffic in Accra alone is crazy and many more people want ease and convenience when it comes to shopping. So aside from the ability to order online deliveries are made to clients on their doorsteps.

When i got to know of the selection, I didn't think it was going to involve press or have ministerial presence. Its only when i got an invitation letter from the Ministry of Trade & Industry and through final confirmations from Google before i went...oh! lol! Come and see panic! lol!

So all in all, it was an honour and i am deeply humbled by the recognition.

I tried my darndest best not to smile too much as the cameras were on. lol! The event was well attended and i was delighted to see all the Google staff wearing my brooches and Peter Pan collar necklaces.

Google team rocking RootsbyNaa accessories

Nana Amoah of Google Ghana

Ob Abenser of FashionistaGh & Estelle

Titi & Ob

They looked awesome! Not forgetting the Gents with my handmade pocket squares! You guys rocked!

Innovation Ghana

as i mentioned earlier has been created for homegrown innovators that are using the Internet to promote and grow their businesses. I would encourage all Ghanaians involved in MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise) to use the Internet to power their businesses like i am doing. Google has many internet-enabled tools to provide solutions for such business owners and its much more cost-effective. There are other Ghanaian owned companies like

DreamOval

and ShopAfrica which are providing solutions for ecommerce in Ghana. Congratulations to the other heroes Ob Abenser of FashionistaGh, Kinna of

GhanaDecides

, DerryDean of DreamOval and Eyram of

LetiGames

. Great guys they are.

Thank you to God (for my creativity), my mom who has the patience of a rock as i turned her living room into a workshop, Google, Ministry of Trade & Industry, friends and family who called and wish me luck and success, and all my clients and fans on my

Facebook page

. Like it if you havent already :) I think the event might be showing on GTV, TV3 and MetroTV during the evening news so just incase you see me, gimme a tweet!

I will not say much today, enjoy the photos taken at the event as well as the video by Innovation Ghana. p.s- i was a nervous wreck when the video was being shot. Maybe it was hunger pangs!

Panel Discussion