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The Strategic Youth Network for Development has held its maiden edition of the Young Green Entrepreneurs Forum at the British Council to promote green jobs among young people.
The convening on October 7, 2023, was on the theme “Empowering Youth-led Green Innovations Paving the Path to Ghana’s Sustainable Future”. It hosted policy makers, political actors, young Ghanaians and various stakeholders in the green economy.
The Executive Coordinator of SYND, Chibeze Ezekiel in his address explained that the Young Green Entrepreneur project is influenced by the will to combat climate change through entrepreneurship, thereby beginning in 2021 with six young green entrepreneurs selected across the country.
“In 2021 we organized a youth in renewable energy workshop. So it was at the workshop that we thought that beyond just advocating the fight against climate change and promoting clean energy, it will also be good to have young people providing solutions as their contributions to the fight against climate change,” he stated.
Currently, the project has “about 22 young entrepreneurs that we are engaging and supporting; presenting these as a catalyst for promoting the country’s renewable energy sources but to also promote sustainable growth, improve social life and to reduce adverse climate change effect.”
The CEO of the National Youth Authority, Pius Hadzide applauded the SYND for this initiative and hence its participation, stating that “in light of the reality we face in job creation, we as young people must leverage our can-do spirits, be creative, resolve identifiable challenges, and monetize the solution to create the future that we seek”.
He added that “it is easier to attract funding as a collective body, from which appropriate steps will be taken in apportioning these monies to persons within the domain of climate change.”
The Deputy Director of Policy Planning at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr. Ernest Berko reiterated the need to prepare adequately for a transition to a green economy; such as the retraining of mechanical engineers to effectively handle the green-powered automobiles.
He further called on financial institutions to finance young green entrepreneurs and advised young entrepreneurs to work in cooperatives rather than being alone.
The Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Gloria Opoku Anti expressed optimism in partnership to create a sustainable future.
The Project Lead for Young Green Entrepreneurs, Maxwell Beganim explained that the forum which forms part of the green revolution “speaks to environmental sustainability and prosperity (profit) for all and creates an avenue to contribute to getting more young people to be inspired to come up with initiatives and innovations that has potential to create jobs and safeguard the environment.”
The Young Green Entrepreneurs Forum is an annual event organized by the Strategic Youth Network for Development. This year’s program comprised an exhibition, a series of panel discussion, among others.
Among the list of attendants include, the Switzerland Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Mrs Simone Giger, Director of Operations at NEIP, Jonas Kofi Arhin, and Founder of ZaaCoal, Mr. Amin Abubakar.
