Ho Technical University has hosted the maiden Ghana Circular Economy Annual Conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to Thursday, October 8, 2026 under the theme, “Circular Economy in Action: Advancing Sustainable Innovation, Industrial Growth, Investment, and Job Creation in Ghana.” The conference brought together key stakeholders to advance discussions on sustainable innovation, resource efficiency and the role of the circular economy in promoting industrial development and job creation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, expressed his pleasure at hosting the conference, describing the University as an appropriate setting for discussions on sustainability. He highlighted HTU’s performance in the Green Metrics rankings, where it was ranked the most sustainable university in Ghana. He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to translating its sustainability vision into practical action by integrating circular economy principles into its teaching, research and community engagement programmes.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, the Director of Environment at the Ministry, Dr Peter Justice Dery, underscored the government’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a regional and international leader in the circular economy. He noted that achieving this ambition would require a skilled workforce of technicians, artisans and entrepreneurs capable of driving sustainable practices and transforming opportunities within the sector into tangible economic benefits.
The Guest Speaker, Ms Cordie Aziz Nash, Founder and Executive Director of Environment 360, observed that Ghana’s challenge was not a shortage of waste, but the limited capacity to transform it into valuable products through scalable recycling models and strong institutional support. She therefore called on stakeholders to invest deliberately in skills development to unlock the economic and environmental opportunities offered by the circular economy.
Speaking on behalf of the Volta Regional Minister, Yannick Noah Agboado, Deputy Director at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, acknowledged the country’s persistent waste-disposal challenges and commended the Volta Region for its efforts to maintain relatively clean communities. He reaffirmed the Region’s commitment to supporting the circular economy project and its objectives.
The Country Programme Coordinator of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Eric Gyenin, expressed appreciation to HTU for its active collaboration and commitment to the successful implementation of the initiative. He described the circular economy as an urgent response to environmental challenges, including climate change and resource depletion, while emphasising its potential to promote inclusive industrial development.
The two-day conference underscored the importance of collaboration among government, academia, industry and other stakeholders in advancing Ghana’s circular economy agenda. Through skills development, innovation, investment and sustainable waste management, the initiative is expected to contribute to environmental protection, industrial growth and the creation of employment opportunities.