Amma Gyampoh: Transforming Africa Through Impact, Innovation, and Local Power

In this episode of the Change Africa Podcast, host Isaac Aboah sits down with Amma Gyampoh, founder and CEO of Scale Up Africa, for a compelling conversation on digital transformation, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and rethinking finance across the continent.

Amma shares how her work in e-government and digital systems in the UK shaped her approach to African development. She reflects on her decision to return to Ghana and the transformative potential of solving problems “amidst the obvious,” especially in agriculture, where she believes distribution is everything.

The discussion dives into African startups' structural challenges, from infrastructure and funding gaps to misaligned investor expectations. Amma champions a shift in mindset and capital, calling for decolonized financing, better collaboration among investors, and deeper engagement from local pension funds and family offices in shaping Africa’s future.

This episode also explores gender lens investing, the untapped power of tourism and the creative economy, and why local decision-making is critical to sustainable entrepreneurship. Amma makes a powerful case for aligning capital with context and systems with sovereignty.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Change Africa Podcast

01:01 – Amma Gyamoh: Founder of Scale Up Africa

02:46 – Digital Transformation Experience in the UK

05:26 – Transitioning to Ghana: Motivations and Challenges

08:23 – Addressing Agricultural Challenges in Africa

12:25 – The Importance of Distribution in Agriculture

15:32 – Building Startups: Differences Between Africa and the UK

18:14 – Investor Perspectives on Infrastructure and Funding

21:12 – Impact Investing Ghana: Collaborative Efforts

25:30 – Unlocking Local Pension Funds for Impact Investments

30:01 – Engaging Wealthy Families in African Tech Opportunities

31:04 – Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential

34:29 – Challenges in the Startup Ecosystem

39:31 – Integrating Solutions Across Sectors

41:12 – Shifting Power Dynamics in Funding

45:54 – Transforming Tourism and Creative Industries

51:26 – Decolonizing Finance and Impact Investing

56:40 – Building a Sustainable Future for Africa

Further Reading and Resources

• Learn more about Amma Gyampoh’s work through Scale Up Africa.
• Explore Impact Investing Ghana, a platform promoting collaboration in inclusive finance.
• Check out AVCA and the Ghana Venture Capital Trust Fund for additional context on investing in African startups.
• Read more on gender lens and decolonial investing at Criterion Institute.

This podcast is a production of Nexa Media.

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