Nanton DCE urges youth to embrace green entrepreneurship to create jobs
The District Chief Executive for Nanton, Hon. Abdul Rahaman Zenabu Rosina, has urged young people in the Northern Region to turn environmental challenges into business opportunities District Chief Executive for Nanton, Hon. Abdul Rahaman Zenabu Rosina, has urged young people in the Northern Region to turn environmental challenges into business opportunities through green entrepreneurship, saying the approach could help address youth unemployment while promoting sustainable development.
She made the call on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, when she delivered an address on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, at the Ghanaian Youth Summit 2026 on Environmental Conservation and Green Jobs at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
Speaking on the theme, “Empowering Young People for Environmental Conservation, Green Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Job Creation,” the Nanton DCE described the summit as timely, stressing that environmental protection and job creation must go hand in hand to drive economic growth.
Hon. Rosina commended the Centre for Opportunities and Rural Development (CORD Ghana) and UDS for organising the summit, which brought together young people, policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and development partners to explore sustainable solutions to environmental challenges and unemployment.
She noted that the Northern Region had enormous potential for green business development in agriculture, livestock production, renewable energy, agro-processing, waste management and environmental restoration. However, she identified youth unemployment, deforestation, land degradation, irregular rainfall and environmental pollution as major challenges requiring urgent attention.
According to her, environmental degradation has contributed to declining soil fertility, the destruction of natural vegetation, bushfires and poor waste management, leaving farming communities increasingly vulnerable to climate-related shocks.
She urged young people to see these challenges as opportunities for innovation and wealth creation rather than wait solely for government employment, emphasising that the youth must become active partners in environmental protection and sustainable economic development.
The DCE identified compost production, plastic recycling, sustainable packaging, solar energy installation, tree nurseries and agroforestry as viable green businesses capable of generating income while protecting the environment.
She also encouraged young entrepreneurs to explore climate-smart agriculture, irrigation services, food processing, agricultural waste utilisation, briquette production and renewable-energy-powered cold storage, describing them as promising areas for enterprise development and job creation.
Hon. Rosina said the government's economic transformation and job-creation agenda under President John Dramani Mahama recognised the importance of equipping young people with the skills, resources and entrepreneurial support needed to establish sustainable businesses.
She cited the Adwumawura Programme, implemented through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, as one of the initiatives designed to support young entrepreneurs through business training, mentorship and assistance to establish and expand their enterprises.
She further encouraged eligible young people to take advantage of the National Apprenticeship Programme to acquire technical and vocational skills in areas such as solar installation, electrical systems, equipment maintenance, sustainable agriculture and waste recovery. Interested applicants, she said, could apply through the programme's official portal at [https://nap.nya.gov.gh/nap/](https://nap.nya.gov.gh/nap/).
On environmental protection, the Nanton DCE called for collective action to prevent bushfires, restore degraded lands, protect water bodies, conserve natural vegetation and reduce plastic pollution.
She stressed that achieving these objectives required the combined efforts of government agencies, traditional authorities, District Assemblies, schools, businesses and community organisations.
Hon. Rosina also encouraged young people to establish environmental clubs, recycling businesses, community restoration projects and volunteer networks to translate environmental awareness into practical action.
She maintained that environmental conservation should not be viewed as separate from economic development, but as an opportunity to build sustainable livelihoods, create jobs and improve community well-being.
She concluded by expressing optimism that the summit would produce practical recommendations to address environmental challenges, strengthen green entrepreneurship and expand sustainable employment opportunities for young people in the Northern Region and across Ghana.
Source: Northwebonline.com
