On October 24, 2024, Ms. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, inaugurated the Circular Economy Centre Project at Ho Technical University in Ghana. This initiative is part of a broader effort to transition the country from a linear to a circular economy, significantly reducing waste and pollution. The project is backed by the European Union and has an estimated budget of approximately $6 million. It will focus on critical sectors such as water, food, and agriculture, aiming to enhance sustainability and economic resilience in these areas.
The Circular Economy Centre will provide training for 2,000 small-scale entrepreneurs and pilot 200 circular economy technologies, contributing to a five-year plan designed to improve economic opportunities for women and youth in Ghana. Kathleen Fynn-Dapash from the Canadian High Commission highlighted the importance of the circular economy in achieving sustainable development goals. The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) [af52e916].
In a related development, Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, is also making strides in the circular economy. The university has announced the establishment of the Training Centre for Resource Efficient Alloys in a Circular Economy (circAlloy), supported by nearly $5 million in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Led by Professor Matthew Barnett, circAlloy aims to develop longer-lasting alloys for industries such as mining and construction, promoting a more circular economy that utilizes fewer resources. The centre will collaborate with industry and academia, focusing on training the next generation in alloy science and manufacturing for resource efficiency [59161b08].