The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Presbyterian University of Ghana and the European Union convened over 80 policymakers, training institutions, and SMEs in Wa to advance green skills reform and enterprise grants for women and youth.
The two-day engagement, held in the Upper West Region, formed part of activities under the GreenGrowth Ghana Project aimed at strengthening sustainable skills development and supporting small businesses across Northern Ghana.
The programme opened with a strategic policy dialogue attended by 45 institutional and government stakeholders focused on reforming Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to align with emerging green economy priorities.
A statement signed by Peter Atsu Dotse, Head of Communications, GNCCI, issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency said 35 agricultural cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participated in hands-on enterprise training covering sustainable agriculture, cooperative governance, digital business tools, and market access strategies.
Launched in October 2024, the GreenGrowth Ghana Project is a 3-year initiative designed 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 structural barriers that limit the participation of women and young people in emerging green markets.
It said since its inception, the initiative had progressed from stakeholder consultations to structured policy dialogue, enterprise training, and targeted grant financing for emerging green businesses.
Mr Kabutey Ceasar, National Treasurer, GNCCI said, “This project demonstrates how policy reform, skills development, and enterprise financing must work together to create sustainable jobs for women and young people.”
He said Northern Ghana had enormous potential in sustainable agriculture and circular production and the GreenGrowth Ghana Project is helping translate that potential into real economic opportunities.
He said the policy dialogue examined how Ghana’s TVET system could better align with green economy needs.
He said participants identified key structural challenges, including outdated equipment in training workshops, limited financing for skills delivery, weak industry linkages, and insufficient enforcement of quality standards.
Mr Christopher Addy-Nayo, Team Leader, GreenGrowth Ghana Project said, “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 added that regional engagements, training programmes, and grant support windows would continue across Northern Ghana to strengthen inclusive green enterprise ecosystems.
Topics covered included soil and water management, cooperative governance, entrepreneurship development, digital tools for business growth, and strategies for accessing domestic and international markets.
Participants also received guidance on environmental compliance, responsible waste management, and circular production approaches that reduce resource use while improving productivity.
Mr Addy-Nayo, said a central component of the GreenGrowth Ghana Project targeted grant support mechanism for women- and youth-led enterprises operating in green sectors.
Through the programme, eligible businesses are receiving 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.