Tano North Member of Parliament, Dr Gideon Boako, has challenged Ghanaian students to take active roles in shaping the country’s sustainability agenda through research, innovation, and advocacy.

He made the call when he joined a panel discussion at the 2025 International Sustainability Conference hosted by the KNUST College of Humanities and Social Sciences, where participants explored the role of business innovation in sustainable development.

Dr Boako, who also doubles as an Economics and Finance lecturer at the KNUST School of Business (currently on leave of absence to serve as an MP), said Ghana’s young people have a crucial role to play in building an economy that values both progress and preservation.

“As students, you are not just the future workforce; you are the future innovators, policymakers, and sustainability champions,” he told the audience.

He urged students to form sustainability clubs, policy and research groups, and innovation hubs focused on addressing real-world development challenges such as waste management, climate resilience, and social equity.

Dr Boako encouraged universities to create platforms for young researchers and entrepreneurs to test and scale green solutions. “Through collaboration, creativity, and commitment, student groups can become incubators of real change,” he said.

He noted that sustainability efforts should go beyond environmental conservation to include fair labour practices, inclusive governance, and equitable access to resources.

“Our generation must be the one that proves that development and sustainability can go hand in hand — for Ghana, for Africa, and for the world,” he concluded.