By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, March 14, GNA – The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has engaged key stakeholders to validate its baseline assessments on Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for gender issues and youth in the circular economy value chain.
The assessment form part of UNIDO’s broader initiative dubbed: “Ghana Circular Economy Centre Project” that seeks to establish a centre to support Ghana’s transition from a linear to a circular economy for economic and environmental sustainability.
It is a five-year project being implemented with focus on agriculture and agro-processing, textiles, and plastics sectors, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, with funding support from the Global Affairs Canada.
The validation workshop, held in Takoradi, brought together key players in the agriculture and agro-processing, textiles, and plastic sectors to seek their inputs to develop an action plan to ensure a successful implementation of the project.
Mr Joseph Yeboah, the Strategic Partnerships and Engagements Lead for the Project, speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the side-lines of the workshop said the overall goal of the project was to ensure an inclusive economic growth through a low-carbon economy, particularly for women and youth.
He said the project was anchored on five pillars namely; the establishment of a physical circular economy centre, training and capacity building for women and youth in the circular economy value chain, and provision of technical assistance for circular economy technologies and businesses.
The rest are access to financial support for innovative circular economy projects, and networking and knowledge exchanges on best circular economy practices.
According to him, the physical circular economy centre had already been established with the Ho Technical University as the host institution, with the University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and OR Foundation as key leads in the project’s implementing value chain.
Mr Yeboah said some of the findings from the assessment revealed a number of issues within the three focal areas that needed strategic interventions to ensure Ghana transitioned successfully to a circular economy by minimising waste, while promoting environmental sustainability.
He stated that the validation was a necessary step to get the buy-in of stakeholders to ensure a carefully designed youth and gender action plan to align with the pillars of the project to help achieve its desired outcomes.
He said similar events would be held in Tamale and Techiman to ensure a broader stakeholder inputs were solicited to successfully implement the project.
Participants at the event took turns to make suggestions and recommendations on what must be done to ensure a holistic approach towards the implementation of the Ghana Circular Economy Centre Project.
They also commended UNIDO and its partners for the initiative, saying it was a significant step towards fostering economic growth and environmental stewardship.
GNA
JP/LAA