News Desk Report
More than 300 young people, entrepreneurs, students, academics and development practitioners have gathered in Ghana’s Northern Region for the Ghanaian Youth Summit 2026, calling for greater investment in green jobs, environmental conservation and inclusive economic opportunities for young people.
The summit, organised by the Centre for Opportunities and Rural Development (CORD Ghana) in partnership with the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment (FNRE) of the University for Development Studies (UDS), provided a platform for participants to explore opportunities in the green economy and discuss practical responses to climate change, environmental degradation and youth unemployment.
The initiative received financial and institutional support from the WACCID Project under the INTERREG MAC Programme, through the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC).
Delivering the welcome address, Executive Director of CORD Ghana, Dr Kodimah Siita, urged young people to look beyond conventional employment and explore entrepreneurship opportunities in the green economy.
He said environmental conservation should not be seen solely as a responsibility but also as an avenue for business development, innovation and sustainable livelihoods.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs to develop and scale green businesses, stressing the potential of youth-led enterprises to contribute to environmental protection while creating employment and supporting Ghana’s economic transformation.
The Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu, encouraged participants to harness education, research and innovation to develop practical solutions to environmental and development challenges.
He emphasised the need to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and community needs, calling for stronger collaboration among universities, civil society organisations, government institutions and the private sector to prepare young people for emerging opportunities in the green economy.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Rosina Zeinab Abdul-Rahaman, a representative urged young people to become active partners in regional development rather than rely solely on government for employment.
The representative highlighted entrepreneurship, skills development and responsible natural resource management as important pathways for young people to contribute to their communities and take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.
Head of Programmes and Policy at CORD Ghana, Esther Nyamekye Opoku, called for deliberate investment in youth capacity development, green financing, mentorship and business incubation to translate the potential of the green economy into sustainable employment.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that green economic opportunities are accessible to young people in rural communities, women and persons with disabilities, warning against leaving vulnerable groups behind in the transition towards a greener economy.
Exploring Opportunities in the Green Economy
Throughout the summit, participants examined opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, waste management and recycling, biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management and the circular economy.
Discussions also highlighted the challenges confronting young entrepreneurs, particularly limited access to finance, technical expertise, business development support and markets.
Participants called for stronger partnerships among government agencies, academic institutions, development organisations and private-sector players to create an enabling environment for youth-led green enterprises and expand access to decent employment.
Representing the WACCID Project, Javier Acerete Navarro provided an overview of the initiative and its objectives, highlighting its contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
He also outlined the project’s efforts to support communities with solar-powered electricity and water solutions, underscoring the role of international cooperation in strengthening local environmental initiatives, facilitating knowledge exchange and improving access to sustainable services.
Positioning Young People at the Centre of the Green Transition
For CORD Ghana and UDS-FNRE, the summit represents an important effort to connect education, environmental sustainability and youth economic empowerment.
It also reinforces the need to recognise young people not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes but as innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders capable of driving Ghana’s transition towards a sustainable and inclusive green economy.
The discussions underscored the importance of equipping young people with the skills, financing, institutional support and opportunities required to turn environmental challenges into viable economic ventures.
The Ghanaian Youth Summit 2026 therefore provided more than a platform for dialogue. It renewed the call for collective action to make environmental protection, green entrepreneurship and youth inclusion central to Ghana’s development agenda.
A key message from the gathering was that achieving sustainable development will require young people to play a leading role in environmental conservation, economic transformation and employment creation.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
