The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), in collaboration with the Presbyterian University of Ghana and the European Union, has convened more than 80 policy-makers, training institutions and small businesses in Wa in the Upper West Region to promote green skills development and enterprise opportunities for women and youth under the GreenGrowth Ghana Project.
The two-day programme, held from February 10 to 11, 2026, forms part of efforts to expand economic opportunities in emerging green economy sectors.
The event opened with a strategic policy dialogue attended by 45 institutional and government stakeholders focused on how the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system can be aligned with the skills demands of the green economy.
On the second day, 35 agricultural cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participated in practical enterprise training covering sustainable agriculture, cooperative governance, digital business tools and strategies for accessing domestic and international markets.
The engagements were organised under the GreenGrowth Ghana Project, a three-year initiative launched in October 2024 to expand economic opportunities for women and youth in green and circular economy sectors across Northern Ghana.
The project promotes sustainable agriculture, agroforestry value chains, circular production systems and environmentally responsible enterprise development while addressing barriers that limit the participation of women and young people in emerging green markets.
Speaking at the event, National Treasurer of GNCCI, Kabutey Ceasar, emphasised the importance of linking policy reform, skills development and enterprise financing to create sustainable jobs.
“This project demonstrates how policy reform, skills development and enterprise financing must work together to create sustainable jobs for women and young people. Northern Ghana has enormous potential in sustainable agriculture and circular production, and the GreenGrowth Ghana Project is helping translate that potential into real economic opportunities,” he said.
Participants at the policy dialogue identified key structural challenges within the TVET system, including outdated equipment in training workshops, limited financing for skills delivery, weak industry linkages and inadequate enforcement of quality standards.
They stressed the need to strengthen work-based learning, deepen collaboration between training institutions and industry, and invest in modern tools that support environmentally compliant production systems.
Team Leader of the GreenGrowth Ghana Project, Christopher Addy-Nayo, said green skills development must focus on practical competencies.
“Green skills development must go beyond theory. Institutions must equip young people with practical competencies that allow them to build sustainable enterprises while protecting the environment,” he said.
He added that regional engagements, training programmes and grant support windows will continue across northern Ghana to strengthen inclusive green enterprise ecosystems.
The enterprise training sessions also introduced participants to soil and water management techniques, entrepreneurship development and digital tools for business growth, alongside guidance on environmental compliance, responsible waste management and circular production approaches that reduce resource use while improving productivity.
A central component of the project is a targeted grant support mechanism for women- and youth-led enterprises operating in green sectors.
Through the programme, eligible businesses receive financial support alongside technical mentoring and business development services to strengthen production capacity, improve environmental standards and expand market access.
The grant facility forms part of a broader project strategy targeting 1,000 women and youth facing economic vulnerability while generating community-level impact through job creation and sustainable enterprise development.
Participants noted that the country’s transition to a green economy will require coordinated action among government institutions, training providers, the private sector and development partners.
The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Presbyterian University of Ghana.
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