The European Union has pledged its continuous commitment to the country in fighting global economic challenges.

It has also indicated to support green businesses and promote the implementation of ambitious environment projects to boost the economy.

At the SNV Ghana’s Green Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony, Head of the European Union delegation to Ghana, Irchad Ramaniadrasoa Razaaly said a collaboration between the EU and Ghana will help address the impact of global challenges on the country’s economy and strengthen it further.

“The European Union and Ghana share many priorities, including this area of green economy. Therefore, together, we have to contribute to addressing all these global challenges, especially those affecting Ghana directly”, he said.

He asserted that young entrepreneurs have the solutions and the creativity to come up with ideas that tackle climate change on the continent and globally.

“The EU believes that young entrepreneurs have the solutions and the creativity to come up with ideas that tackle climate change and make use of what is regarded as waste”, he pointed out.

The Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project is a four-year action from the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

The project is intended to create greater economic and employment opportunities for the youth, women and returning migrants by promoting and supporting sustainable, green businesses in the Western and Ashanti Regions of Ghana.

Twelve green businesses and entrepreneurs from the Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana received a combined matching grant of ¢1,170,000 under the 2021 GrEEn Innovation Challenge.

GrEEn is implemented under the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa, with funding of EUR 20,000,000 from the EU, and co-funding of EUR 600,000 from SNV and UNCDF. It is co-implemented by SNV Ghana and UNCDF in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.