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Abu Jinapor calls for stronger environmental laws to unlock Africa’s nature-based economy
The Member of Parliament for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called for stronger environmental legislation to enable African countries to fully benefit from nature-based solutions while building climate resilience, creating jobs and promoting sustainable economic growth.
He said although several African countries, including Ghana, had made significant progress in developing policies to protect the environment and promote carbon markets, stronger legal backing was needed to ensure their long-term implementation and attract greater investment.
Mr. Jinapor made the call during a panel discussion at a public lecture organised by the Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) of the University of Ghana and the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) to commemorate the 2026 Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) at the Cedi Conference Centre of the university on Tuesday.
Speaking on the theme, “Africa at a Crossroads: Can Nature-Based Solutions Deliver Climate Resilience, Jobs, Equity and Justice?”, Mr. Jinapor stressed that research should not remain in academic journals but must influence public policy and national development.
He said research should also be linked to business and financing so that scientific discoveries could be transformed into practical solutions that improved livelihoods and generated economic value.
According to him, governments across Africa must demonstrate political commitment by establishing policies and regulatory systems that would enable their countries to benefit from the growing global market for nature-based solutions.
Mr. Jinapor said Ghana had already taken important steps by developing a national framework for carbon trading, creating opportunities for communities to benefit financially from environmental conservation.
He disclosed that the country had successfully distributed about five million dollars through a benefit-sharing arrangement under its carbon market programme to support local communities and researchers.
The former Lands and Natural Resources Minister also highlighted Ghana’s achievements in responsible forest management, noting that the country was among the first in the world, alongside Indonesia, to issue Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences for legally sourced timber exported to international markets.
He said successive governments had continued to strengthen environmental policies and expand certified forest resources to meet international standards.
Contributing to the discussion, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mr. Balla Moussa Sidibé, said Africa’s future depended on protecting and restoring nature rather than exploiting it for short-term economic gains.
He described climate change as one of the continent’s biggest development challenges, affecting agriculture, food security, water resources, livelihoods and economic growth.
According to him, forests, wetlands, mangroves and healthy soils were strategic natural assets capable of reducing climate risks, improving food security and creating sustainable jobs if properly managed.
Mr. Sidibé cited the Congo Basin as one of the world’s most important ecosystems because of its role in storing carbon, conserving biodiversity and regulating rainfall, saying its protection was critical not only for Africa but for the global climate.
He called for increased investment in ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and other green sectors to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
Other panelists called for stronger collaboration among universities, governments and research institutions across Africa, arguing that countries facing similar environmental challenges should share knowledge and expertise instead of working in isolation.
They also stressed the need for trust, transparency and fairness in research partnerships to ensure the benefits of collaboration were shared equitably.
Touching on Monday’s floods in parts of Accra, the panelists said years of wetland destruction and poor land-use planning had significantly worsened flooding in the capital.
They explained that wetlands such as the Densu Delta and Sakumo Ramsar sites naturally absorb floodwaters and protect biodiversity but had come under increasing pressure from encroachment and degradation.
The Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate of the University of Ghana, Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, said the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa had become an important platform for promoting research, innovation and partnerships that addressed Africa’s development challenges.
He urged government, industry and academia to deepen collaboration to ensure research produced practical solutions that improved livelihoods and supported sustainable development.
He urged African governments to invest more in nature-based solutions, strengthen environmental laws and translate research into practical policies capable of building climate-resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies for future generations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
While many graduates dream of securing comfortable corporate jobs after years of education, Bushira Saanpograwwo Abass chose a different path. Armed with determination and savings from her National Service, she ventured into pineapple farming, driven by a belief in the untapped opportunities within agriculture.
What began as a modest farming experiment has since evolved into a growing agribusiness, positioning her as a woman determined to challenge conventional perceptions of farming, inspire young people and build a lasting agricultural legacy.
Born in Bawku in the Upper East Region, Bushira was raised in a family that valued education and discipline. She attended school in Bawku and Tamale Senior High School, studied Advanced French Language at the Ghana Institute of Languages and Bilingual Secretaryship at the University of Media, Arts and Communication, then earned an MPhil in Sustainability Science from the University of Ghana. Her childhood ambitions were journalism and space travel; but farming came unexpectedly.
Bushira’s interest grew from seeing a gap in a sector essential to everyday life. She recognised agriculture’s untapped potential but believed youth participation and innovation were insufficient. To her, it offered much more than crop cultivation and animal rearing: it was a route to entrepreneurship, employment and wealth creation.
Her decision was not immediately understood. Her parents expected her to find an office job after her education, while some friends questioned her choice of farming. She remained convinced that the sector offered an opportunity worth pursuing.
Her journey began about eight years ago, during National Service, when she saved portions of her allowance to establish a business. After considering crops and livestock, she chose crop production. A trip to the mountains around Aburi inspired her to grow pineapples. She admired the plantations and recognised the crop’s commercial potential.
With her savings, she started despite having no practical farming experience. She learnt on the job, making mistakes and improving her methods. That first venture became the foundation of Bushara Bustan.
Her first major setback was losing an entire production, a financial and emotional blow that threatened the business.
She temporarily left farming, returned to corporate work, started a personal business and saved until she could rebuild. Eventually, she returned to the field.
Last year, an earth-moving machine destroyed part of her farm in an incident reportedly caused by a mistake. The damage attracted public attention and calls from concerned supporters. Despite promises of assistance, she says she received no help towards recovery.
She did not consider quitting. Other farms and ongoing production enabled her to continue. The experience reinforced her belief that entrepreneurs cannot always wait for outside support; sometimes they must work with the resources available.
Bushara Bustan has grown from a small pineapple venture into a diversified enterprise. Pineapple remains its main crop, alongside cassava, chilli pepper and ginger.
Bushira has also entered livestock and poultry through Horns and Wings Sustenance, which deals in chicken, turkey and goats, sold live or properly packaged.
Farming’s reward, she says, is knowing her farms contribute food to people’s tables. Agriculture has also brought financial stability and opportunities in mentoring, teaching, consultancy and advocacy. Her day often begins at 5 a.m. with farm supervision.
Youth development is central to Bushira’s work. She founded ‘The Agreen Generation Blueprint’ to equip young people with practical agricultural skills and agribusiness knowledge. She also leads Agric Legacy Builders, a platform for sharing knowledge and connecting people through the experiences of those in the sector.
She wants young people to regard agriculture as a sector of choice, not a last resort.
As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, she has occasionally faced challenges managing farm workers. Some male workers, she says, have seemed reluctant to take her instructions seriously.
She suspects they assume she will not be firm enough to enforce decisions. She sees her leadership as a way to challenge stereotypes and show that women can run agricultural businesses.
Bushira hopes to expand Bushara Bustan, increase production and improve market reach. She wants Horns and Wings Sustenance to become a reliable supplier of livestock and poultry products. Through The Agreen Generation Blueprint, she plans to reach more young people, especially women, with practical training and mentorship.
She wants her legacy associated with opportunity, impact and honesty. She believes success should not come at the expense of integrity.
Away from work, Bushira enjoys a quiet life, watching movies and resting at home. She sometimes visits the beach to relax. Her outlook is grounded in faith, hard work, contentment and treating others well.
She urged young aspiring farmers to begin with what they have, keep learning and not let fear stop them.
“Farming demands patience, commitment and resilience. Young entrepreneurs also need access to land, affordable finance, practical training, mentorship, modern equipment and dependable markets,” she added.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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For Ms Fafa Gozo, being alive is a blessing she no longer takes for granted. Having faced breast cancer and endured the challenges of treatment, she has learnt to appreciate life differently, embrace change and find strength in an experience she once feared would end her life.
“If you ask me how to describe my life today, I would say well, because I am alive,” she said.
Although her life is no longer the same as it was before her diagnosis, she is grateful for the opportunity to live and make the most of each day.
Before breast cancer, Ms Gozo described herself as a happy woman who balanced her responsibilities as a mother, wife and career woman. However, her life changed when she discovered a lump in her breast while breastfeeding her youngest child.
She sought medical attention, and further examinations led to a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer. The news was difficult to accept, particularly as she had a young child and family responsibilities to consider.
Chemotherapy began almost immediately. The treatment weakened her body, and she had to return to the hospital for further care.
Beyond medication, she needed emotional strength to cope with the physical and psychological demands of the experience. Nevertheless, she continued with treatment, drawing strength from her faith and determination to live.
May 2022 marked the end of her chemotherapy, bringing relief after months of treatment. In June, she began another phase of her journey, focusing on recovery and rebuilding her life.
Healing was gradual, requiring physical and emotional adjustments. Just when she thought the worst was over, another health concern arose; bringing renewed anxiety and the need for further medical attention.
The experience taught her that recovery does not always follow a straight path. It requires patience, courage and the willingness to face uncertainty.
Despite the difficulties, Ms Gozo has chosen to embrace the woman she has become rather than dwell on what she has lost.
“The old Fafa is gone, but I am loving the new Fafa. I appreciate the new Fafa more and take life easy because now I know life is very short and very vulnerable. Everyone is at risk,” she said. Read More.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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