Category: ENVIRONMENT

Rivers, forests to become security zones – Lands Minister hints in intensified galamsey fight

The government will soon declare all rivers and forests in Ghana as security zones as part of a renewed effort to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the measure, warning that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining within these protected areas will do so “at their own risk.” “We are moving another step further, and that step says we are going to declare all the water bodies and our forests security zones. And you stay there and engage in illegal…

Making an Input into Ghana’s Circular Economy Drive

Tahir Field Recycling Turns “Dirty Oil” into Goodies By: Mohammed A. Abu Ghana is actively transitioning from the wasteful, take-make-use-waste-discard linear economy to a circular (resources use efficiency oriented) economy through policies like the National Plastic Management Policy. Key initiatives include developing Circular Economy Centres and Hubs for technical training and business incubation, supported by organizations like the UNIDO, UNDP and the European Union. These efforts aim to reduce waste and pollution, promote resource efficiency, and ensure a just transition that includes women and youth in economic opportunities. Circular economy principles appreciates waste in…

All Set for EARLYFEST 2025: Africa’s Festival for Children, Innovation and Sustainability

The TERIA Foundation has announced the 5th edition of EARLYFEST 2025, Africa’s leading festival dedicated to children, innovation, and sustainability. This was contained in an official statement issued in Accra, Saturday.The festival, the statement said, will take place on 21st–22nd November 2025 at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, Accra, Ghana. EARLYFEST 2025, it disclosed, will bring together children, educators, innovators,organizations, and businesses across Africa to celebrate creativity, promote sustainable solutions, and highlight the importance of early childhood development. “EARLYFEST is more than a festival. It is a movement to reimagine…

Community Health, Sanitation and Water Supply In Oil-Producing Areas of Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region: Focus on Imo State [current concerns 2-010](Dr.Uzodinma Adirieje)

Author-CEO/Programmes Director, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) – CSOs Network and Think-tank,EMAIL: druzoadirieje2015@gmail.com   1.BACKGROUND Imo State, located within Nigeria’s Niger Delta Belt of the Eastern region, is one of the country’s recognized oil-producing states. Oil exploration in Imo dates back to the late 1970s, with the discovery of petroleum deposits in areas such as Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, and parts of Owerri West. These communities form the state’s primary oil belt and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s crude oil and gas output. Imo State hosts several oil companies, including multinational and indigenous operators,…

Four African Cities Awarded CRA’s African Urban Heat Resilience Grants

Addis Ababa, 10 September 2025 — As part of the Africa Climate Summit 2.0 Flagship Initiative, African Cities Resilience, Climate Resilience for All (CRA), alongside the Ethiopia State Minister of Planning and Development for Environment, Climate Change and Demography, H.E Seyoum Mekonnen Hailu, announced the cities of Accra, Paynesville, Monrovia, and Kassa as recipients of its African Urban Heat Resilience Grant Program. As climate change accelerates and urbanization expands, African cities are increasingly exposed to dangerous heat, disproportionately impacting women and vulnerable communities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment…

Can the AU Drive a Realistic African Climate Agenda?(By Prince Israel Orekha)

About Author-Global Director ,Connected Advocacy,israel@connectedadvocacy.org.ng   As Africa Climate Week, #ACS2 opens, one pressing question lingers: Can the African Union (AU) chart a realistic and united pathway to address Africa’s climate crisis—or will the gathering become another symbolic ceremony remembered only in speeches? The urgency is undeniable. Africa stands at the frontline of climate change, yet its fragmented approaches and weak governance systems risk undermining the continent’s ability to respond effectively. For the AU to lead meaningfully, several critical issues must be addressed: Building Unity of Purpose The AU must…

EJN Grantee’s Report On Illegal Logging Generates Community Debate and Pushes Government to Investigate National Forest Authority

Kiundu Waweru First Published, 29 August 2025 Uganda’s forests house a plethora of flora and fauna, including charismatic species like the mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and the most studied chimpanzees in the world, in Kibale National Park. The country is known as the “pearl of Africa”, a phrase attributed to Winston Churchill. In 1907, Churchill, then the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, was on a tour of East Africa. On visiting Uganda, its natural beauty had a great effect on him, and…

Carbon-finance project pioneer TASC joins Carbon Markets Africa Summit as diamond sponsor

The organisers of the upcoming Carbon Markets Africa Summit have announced the diamond sponsorship of TASC, the award-winning and pioneering carbon finance project developer with a proven track record of innovative climate mitigation techniques and investing in local communities an official statement issued in Cape Town,Wednesday has  disclosed Taking place in Johannesburg from 22 to 23 October, Carbon Markets Africa Summit will gather the continent’s entire carbon markets value chain, from successful early carbon market movers, climate-finance-ready projects and regulatory bodies to global institutional development organisations and investors. High-impact carbon projects at…

Celebrating Women in Waste: Samu Mkhize on Building Inclusive Recycling Systems

This  Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the women who are transforming Africa’s waste and recycling sector from the inside out. One of them is Samu Mkhize, Collections & Training Manager at Petco Producer Responsibility Organisation, who works across South Africa to build inclusive, effective recycling systems. From empowering women-led enterprises to designing national training programmes, Samu is proving that passion, innovation, and purpose are key drivers of change. We spoke to her about the challenges, the opportunities, and what inspires her in this work. Q: What are the key operational challenges in scaling…

The Success of rCOMSDEP Could be the Best Tribute to the Lost Lives

Editorial Comment As Ghana bade farewell to mortal remains of the rest of the six out of the eight fallen heroes last Friday, Ghanaians need to reflect soberly on this question-what was their mission that day and most unfortunately they couldn’t even reach their destination as fate had it? It was in connection with the planned official launch of the Responsible Mining & Skills Development Programme(rCOMSDEP) a government initiative intended to create sustainable jobs through responsible cooperative mining and also address the decades long devastating impact of illegal mining on…