Ghana Circular Economy Centre

13/08/2026

The Ghana Circular Economy Centre(GCEC) organised the 2026 International Youth Day celebration at Ho Technical University, bringing young people together to explore their place in Ghana’s transition to a circular economy.

A major highlight was the World Café session, where participants discussed and prioritised the roles young people can play, identified barriers limiting their participation, explored opportunities within the circular economy, and developed practical recommendations for greater youth involvement.

The discussions were complemented by a keynote address and solidarity messages from youth-led entrepreneurs and enterprises already pursuing circular related ventures, providing practical perspectives on transforming ideas into action.

Held under the theme “𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,” the event forms part of activities under the Ghana Circular Economy Centre Project, implemented by UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology (MEST), with funding support from Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada.

12/08/2026

Today, we celebrate 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 at Ho Technical University - HTU under the theme “𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”

Today is also about listening to young people, their perspectives, the barriers they face, the opportunities they see and the support they believe is needed to make Ghana’s transition more inclusive and future-ready.

Happy International Youth Day! Stay tuned for excerpts from the event.



Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation University Of Cape Coast (UCC) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Motai- Ghana The Or Foundation

11/08/2026

It's happening tomorrow!

Young people have a vital role to play in shaping a more circular Ghana — through fresh ideas, innovation, enterprise and action.

As we mark International Youth Day 2026, we look forward to conversations that move beyond awareness to what young people can actually do, and the support they need to make it happen.

Youth Shaping Ghana's Circular Economy: From Ideas to Action.



UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ho Technical University - HTU University Of Cape Coast (UCC) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

10/08/2026

Young people can make a real difference in Ghana’s circular economy transition by rethinking how products are designed, how materials are chosen, how businesses operate and how value is created without leaving waste behind.

A young fashion designer can reduce material waste. An entrepreneur can redesign packaging for repeated use. A food processor can turn by-products into useful resources. An innovator can build a business model that keeps products and materials in use for longer.

This is the bigger opportunity of the circular economy: not simply dealing with waste better, but designing waste and pollution out from the beginning.

As we count down to International Youth Day 2026, we celebrate the creativity and enterprise of young people, and the possibilities that emerge when they have the knowledge, tools and opportunities to rethink how Ghana produces and consumes.

2 days to go!



UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ho Technical University - HTU Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

09/08/2026

Ghana’s transition to a will need a generation of people equipped to rethink how we produce, use and recover resources across plastics, textiles, agriculture and agro-processing.

That is why creating the right environment matters: knowledge, skills, networks, mentorship and opportunities that can help young people move promising ideas towards practical circular solutions.

On this year's International Youth Day, we bring youth together to learn, connect, explore possibilities and imagine their place in Ghana’s circular future.

Circular Ideas. Real Solutions. From Ideas to Action.



UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ho Technical University - HTU Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) The Or Foundation Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Motai- Ghana Ministry of Finance, Ghana University Of Cape Coast (UCC)

08/08/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀, 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.

Young people need the knowledge, opportunities, networks and enabling environment to turn ideas into practical circular solutions.

Through the Ghana Circular Economy Centre, these conditions are being created to help inspire and support greater youth participation across plastics, textiles, agriculture and agro-processing.

In 4 days, we celebrate young people and create space to learn, connect, explore opportunities and imagine their role in Ghana’s circular future.

Stay tuned...



UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ho Technical University - HTU Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) University Of Cape Coast (UCC) Cape Coast Technical University The Or Foundation Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Motai- Ghana Ministry of Finance, Ghana

07/08/2026

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

This year, we are celebrating young people contributing to circular economy-related initiatives and solutions, while creating a space to explore new ideas, share experiences, build connections and network around opportunities for advancing Ghana’s circular economy.

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚: 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙖’𝙨 𝘾𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙀𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮: 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

Circular Ideas. Real Solutions. Be part of the solution. Be part of the change.



UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ho Technical University - HTU Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) University Of Cape Coast (UCC) Cape Coast Technical University Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Motai- Ghana

30/07/2026

Good news for innovators developing tech-driven circular economy solutions for Ghana’s agriculture and textile value chains: applications for the Innovation Challenge are open until 8 August, with opportunities for technical support, mentorship and market access. Click on the link below for more information on how to apply:

https://agritechchallenge.org/projects/circulareconomy4ghana

UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization

The CircularEconomy4Ghana Innovation Challenge is designed to support novel technologies that strengthen the circular economy, enhance food security, and build long-term resilience within Ghana’s agricultural sector. 

25/07/2026

We are pleased to see the University of Cape Coast, as Plastic Value Chain Lead under the Ghana Circular Economy Centre Project, backing a new generation of entrepreneurs through this two-day Incubation Bootcamp.

By giving these entrepreneurs the tools to build practical solutions in the plastics sector, we are turning circular ideas into real enterprises and moving Ghana toward a more sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ho Technical University - HTU Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) University Of Cape Coast (UCC)

24/07/2026

What is often discarded can become the starting point for a new product, a new business and a new way of thinking about resources.

At Environment360’s Green Complex facility in Dodowa, plastics, fabric offcuts and agricultural residues were no longer seen simply as waste. In the hands of participants, they became materials for learning, creativity and production.

The practical session formed part of the 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆, organised by UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, with funding support from Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada, under the Ghana Circular Economy Centre project.

The event brought together women working across the plastics, textiles, agriculture and agro-processing value chains, as well as students pursuing sustainability-related programmes and members of academia. Having completed foundational circular economy training, they gathered at the Green Complex to put their knowledge into practice.

Guided by Environment360, participants sorted recovered materials, moulded plastics into usable items, and created new products from discarded fabrics and agricultural residues. In the process, they saw how materials that might otherwise be thrown away could be transformed into resources for innovation, enterprise and livelihoods.

Beyond the practical activities, the event created space for participants to exchange ideas, learn from one another and explore how circular practices could be applied within their own businesses, institutions and value chains.

The experience brought one message vividly to life: 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱.



Ho Technical University - HTU Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) University Of Cape Coast (UCC)