Ghana’s economic transformation is receiving a major green boost with the rollout of a new circular economy project that promises to reshape industries and tackle the country’s growing youth unemployment crisis.
Mr. Eric Gyenin, Country Coordinator of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), said the organisation is spearheading a five-year initiative to help Ghana pivot from a linear “take-make-dispose” economy to a more regenerative, circular model—where waste is repurposed into value, and sustainability drives innovation.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Takoradi, Mr. Gyenin described the Ghana Circular Economy Centre (GCEC) Project as a cornerstone for green industrialisation, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth. The project, supported by Global Affairs Canada and implemented in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), is focusing on three high-impact sectors: agriculture and agro-processing, textiles, and plastics.
“The move to a circular economy is not just an environmental obligation—it is an economic opportunity,” Gyenin stressed, noting that the transition could create thousands of jobs across the value chains of priority sectors, particularly for youth and women.
The GCEC Project is built around five core pillars:
-
Establishment of a national circular economy centre.
-
Capacity building and skills development for women and youth.
-
Technical assistance for circular economy enterprises.
-
Facilitated access to financing for innovative green startups.
-
Knowledge-sharing and cross-sector networking.
With Ho Technical University as the host institution, and academic partners such as the University of Cape Coast, KNUST, and The OR Foundation, the project aims to develop a nationwide ecosystem of circular economy actors.
Gyenin believes the initiative is a catalyst for Ghana’s low-carbon industrialisation agenda, aligning with both national development goals and the global push for climate-conscious economic models.
“This project is a game changer for job creation and sustainable production. It will help Ghana leapfrog traditional industrial models by embedding recycling, reuse, and resource efficiency into the heart of economic activities,” he said.
He also positioned the project as a strategic support to the government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy, arguing that a round-the-clock economy requires a circular system where raw materials are constantly regenerated, keeping industries in operation and resource flows uninterrupted.
“If we are serious about running an economy 24/7, then circularity must be at the centre,” he added.
With mounting pressure on Ghana to both industrialise and meet environmental targets, the UNIDO-led initiative provides a blueprint for how green innovation can drive the next phase of Ghana’s economic development—turning waste into wealth, and unemployment into opportunity.
