Ghana and Pan-African Partners Accelerate Climate Action Through Green Jobs, Electric Mobility, and Traditional Conservation

Across Ghana and the wider African continent, a multi-faceted approach to environmental sustainability is gaining momentum, ranging from high-level policy demands to grassroots technological shifts. Coinciding with World Environment Day 2026, the Frimpong-Manso Institute has issued a stern call for a national strategy to combat illegal mining, or galamsey, which remains a primary threat to the nation’s food security and climate resilience. Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, President of the Institute, emphasized that while developed nations often fail to meet climate commitments, local action is imperative to protect ecosystems and provide sustainable livelihoods for those currently dependent on destructive mining practices.

Simultaneously, industrial and international partnerships are addressing the plastic waste crisis through the INNOWASTE project. A collaboration between GIZ, Zoomlion Ghana, and Blue Skies Products, the initiative aims to create 600 green jobs in the plastic waste management sector between 2025 and 2028. Strategically targeting marginalized groups, the project earmarks 30% of these roles for women and 60% for youth. Beyond employment, the project will modernize waste collection by providing tricycles, installing plastic vending machines, and implementing health support for workers, addressing the estimated one million metric tonnes of plastic waste Ghana generates annually.

In Northern Ghana, the town of Bawku has emerged as a surprising leader in electric mobility through the "Ride for Clean Air" campaign. Initially driven by local restrictions on petrol motorcycles due to unrest, the community has embraced electric bikes as a cost-effective and cleaner alternative. Local business leader Hakeem Girma noted that while the transition reduces air pollution and fuel costs, high import duties remain a significant barrier for lower-income riders. To further bolster environmental restoration, the "One Rider, One Tree" initiative was launched alongside the campaign, distributing 200 tree seedlings to motorcycle users to encourage local reforestation.

This trend toward community-led resilience is mirrored on a continental scale. A recent study by the African Forest Forum (AFF) conducted in Benin, Ethiopia, and South Africa highlights that indigenous knowledge systems are vital for protecting forest-based food species. As deforestation and land-use changes threaten traditional food sources, the research advocates for integrating these ancestral conservation techniques with modern policy frameworks. Together, these diverse initiatives in Ghana and across Africa suggest that the most effective climate solutions are those that combine institutional support with grassroots innovation and cultural heritage.