THE Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural resources while accelerating food security and economic growth.
According to the Deputy Chief Executive of the EPA, Dr Jacob Paarechuga Anankware, the country’s development trajectory must be rooted in systems that regenerate ecosystems, minimise waste, and create equitable economic opportunities.
He made this known at a high-level national consultation workshop in Accra, organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT through the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP), the Circular Bioeconomy Innovation Hub (CBEIH), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The workshop, which brought together policymakers, researchers, innovators, farmer cooperatives, private sector actors and international partners, will guide the development of the Circular Economy for Ghana Innovation Challenge.
It aims to identify and support high-impact solutions capable of transforming Ghana’s agri-food systems, strengthening resource efficiency and securing a sustainable future for generations.
Opening the workshop, he stressed that the country’s transition to a circular economy “depends fundamentally on the quality of partnerships we forge today.”
He called for an integrated ecosystem where smallholder farmers, women and youth benefit directly from green innovations and where environmental protection and economic prosperity move together.
He highlighted that the workshop aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s research-led development agenda, which challenges public institutions and private actors to depart from “business-as-usual” approaches.
The Sub-Division Lead for Water, Sanitation and Environment at the Ghana Institution of Engineering, Dr Bertha Darteh, said with 50 to 60 per cent of national waste being organic, composting presents an immediate opportunity to improve soil fertility, enhance moisture retention and reduce costly fertiliser imports.
The Country Representative of the International Water Management Institute, Prof. Kehinde Olufunso Ogunjobi, noted that the workshop would shape the country’s own edition of the CGIAR Circular Economy Innovation Challenge, scheduled for 2026.
“The initiative already implemented in Morocco, Kenya, Rwanda, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Colombia will identify and scale science-driven circular solutions tailored to Ghana’s agricultural needs,” he added.
The African Development Bank’s Country Manager, Mrs Eyerusalem Fasika, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s circular transition across agriculture, packaging, electronics and textiles.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
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