A five-member delegation from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) on Thursday, October 16, 2025, has paid a working visit to Ho Technical University (HTU).
The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration under the Ghana Circular Economy Project, for which Global Affairs Canada serves as a major funding partner.
Led by Mr. Joseph Yeboah, Strategic Partnerships and Engagements Lead for the Project, the team visited HTU to give the GAC representatives, as funding partners, first-hand insight into the progress of activities at the Ghana Circular Economy Centre, which is hosted by the University. The visit also provided an opportunity for the team to engage with Management and assess the impact of the partnership in driving sustainable innovation and industrial transformation.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, on behalf of Management, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation to both UNIDO and GAC for their continued confidence in the University. He reaffirmed HTU’s commitment to advancing sustainability-focused education and innovation in line with Ghana’s development priorities and global environmental goals.
Mr. Yeboah, provided an overview of the Ghana Circular Economy Project, highlighting key milestones achieved so far and the strategic importance of the collaboration in fostering a resource-efficient and resilient economy. He explained that the initiative, which seeks to promote sustainable production and consumption patterns, aims to support local industries in reducing waste, reusing materials, and maximizing value across product life cycles. He emphasised that, the Ghana Circular Economy Centre at HTU serves as a national hub for research, training, and innovation in circular economy practices, supporting capacity building and industry partnerships across the country and the region.
Eric Gyenin, Country Programme Coordinator at UNIDO, expressed his gratitude to the financial sector, academia, the Government of Ghana, and all development partners for their steadfast support of the Ghana Circular Economy Project. He extended special appreciation to HTU, the host institution, for its active collaboration and dedication to the successful implementation of the initiative.
Dr. Harrison Adjimah, HTU’s Project Team Lead, shared updates on the University’s contributions, including the establishment of the Centre, staff capacity building, and stakeholder engagements. He noted that several training and sensitization sessions had been organized to build the technical capacity of staff and industry partners in circular economy concepts and applications.
Building on this, Dr. Jennifer Adaletey, HTU’s Project Co-Team Lead, emphasized the University’s readiness to serve as a leader in promoting sustainable solutions through education, research, and technology-driven initiatives that advance Ghana’s green growth agenda. She reiterated the team’s commitment to deepening community outreach and fostering partnerships that translate sustainability knowledge into tangible economic and environmental outcomes.
Ms. Francoise Nduwimana, Head of Cooperation at Global Affairs Canada, commended the quality of work done so far and expressed satisfaction with HTU’s Management of the project. She noted that HTU was an excellent choice to host the Centre, citing the University’s strong infrastructure, technical expertise, and commitment to innovation as key strengths that align with the project’s vision. She reaffirmed GAC’s support for the ongoing collaboration and the shared goal of fostering sustainable industrial development through circular economy principles.
Echoing her colleague’s sentiments, Ndeye G. Ndoye, Assistance Policy Analyst at GAC, expressed joy about HTU’s remarkable inclusion of women across various disciplines, particularly in fields traditionally dominated by men. She noted that this reflects the University’s progressive commitment to gender balance and empowerment, which strongly aligns with the broader objectives of the Ghana Circular Economy Project that identifies women as one of its major beneficiaries. Ms. Ndoye added that she is excited about what the future holds for the Centre and commended HTU’s forward-looking approach to inclusive and sustainable development.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of the University’s facilities, during which the delegation had the opportunity to interact with staff and observe some of the infrastructural capacities that make HTU a fitting home for the Ghana Circular Economy Centre.