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Dr Okai-Mensah spearheading attainment of SDG 12 in Ghana
It has long been the passion of Dr Mrs Christiana Konamah Okai-Mensah to contribute meaningfully to national development, particularly through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
This goal emphasises the importance of efficient resource use, waste reduction, and the promotion of sustainable practices.
Inspired by a heartfelt birthday message from Rev. David Aboagye Danquah, a Presbyterian Minister, Dr Okai-Mensah, was further encouraged to turn her vision into action—transforming textile waste into valuable products to benefit society and the environment.
The beginning of a vision
Dr Okai-Mensah’s journey began with a simple but impactful initiative at Accra Technical University (ATU), where she works as a lecturer.
She founded a student club that focused on incorporating waste textiles into fashion projects. This laid the foundation for what would become the Reclaim Textile Network (RTN) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to combating textile waste through upcycling, sustainable fashion education, and inclusive community innovation.
In an interview with The Spectator, Dr Okai-Mensah said with over 92 million tons of textile waste generated globally each year, much of it is offloaded onto developing nations.
She said Ghana, and its cities, particularly Accra, has become a major dumping ground for discarded second-hand clothing—putting immense pressure on landfills sites and governments as a whole.
The Reclaim Textile
Network (RTN)
Established as a response to this growing crisis, she said RTN Ghana aims to divert textile waste from landfills and instead channel it into creative reuse programmes.
According to her the organisation empowers youth, artisans, students, women, and underserved communities to transform fabric cut-offs into eco-conscious products with both social and economic value.
Dr Okai-Mensah who is a lecturer at Accra Technical University said RTN’s objective was to showcase up-cycled products, highlight student creations, launch the Textile Waste-to- Product challenge, and promote community training and advocacy
“In just one year, RTN has reached over 1,500 students across 11 institutions, including five senior high schools, tertiary institutions, two churches, and a rehabilitation centre,” she said.
These engagements, she said have built practical skills and raised awareness about sustainable practices.
Challenges and call for support Despite the significant impact RTN has made, Dr Okai-Mensah notes that the organisation faces serious challenges, primarily due to limited resources.
Currently, RTN operates with only one full-time staff member and three part-time assistants, with fabric waste collected manually using her private vehicle.
“So far, funding has come entirely from my personal resources, with support from my husband, Mr Kwasi Okai-Mensah,” she revealed. “We need stakeholders to come on board to scale this impact.”
Dr Okai-Mensah advocates the integration of textile upcycling into school curricula, citing its affordability and environmental benefits. She calls on the government, private sector, and corporate organisations to support RTN’s initiatives.
Academic and
Professional contributions
Dr Okai-Mensah is a distinguished academic and leader in textiles and fashion design technology. Her research spans sustainable textile practices, design innovation, and the technological advancement of Ghana’s textile and fashion industry.
She has published extensively and participated in numerous international conferences.
Educational Background
Dr Okai-Mensah has an MPhil in Art Education, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), 2013–2015, MA in Adult Education, University of Ghana, Legon, 2011–2012, BA in Art (Textiles), KNUST, 1996–2000, Teacher’s Certificate A, 1989–1992
Global recognition
In 2007, she proudly represented Ghana in the Thread Project – One World, One Cloth (Lienzo Luminoso – Cloth of Light), a global initiative promoting unity through textiles.
Her leadership and experience continue to earn her recognition as a valuable advisor and thought leader in sustainability and education.
Personal Life
Born in Berekum in the Bono Region, Dr. Okai-Mensah is married to Mr Kwesi Okai-Mensah and blessed with three sons. Her hobbies include singing and mentoring young minds. Her favourite dish is fufu with chicken light soup.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
PROF. Nana Ama Browne Klutse has emerged as one of Ghana’s most influential scientists in the field of climate research and environmental policy.
A distinguished physicist and climate scientist, she currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Ghana, a role she assumed in January 2025 following her appointment by the President.
Her appointment places her at the helm of the nation’s foremost environmental regulatory body at a time when climate change and environmental sustainability have become critical issues for national development.
Before her current position, Prof. Klutse served as the Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Ghana from August 2023 to January 2025. Her leadership there was historic, as she became the first woman to occupy that position since the department was established.
In the same year, she achieved another remarkable milestone by becoming the first female full professor of Physics in Ghana and the first woman to attain that rank in the discipline at the University of Ghana in its 75-year history.
Beyond her national role, Prof. Klutse also commands global recognition in climate science. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change. Through this role, she contributes to shaping global climate knowledge and policy, while ensuring that Africa’s perspectives and experiences are reflected in international climate assessments.
Earlier in her career, Prof. Klutse worked as a Senior Research Scientist at the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute under the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, where she managed the Remote Sensing and Climate Centre.
Her research expertise lies in climate modelling, climate variability and climate change impacts, particularly in Africa. Over the years, she has contributed significantly to research initiatives that seek to understand climate patterns and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for vulnerable communities.
Born in Nyanfeku Ekroful in the Central Region, Prof. Klutse began her academic journey at Nyanfeku Ekroful Community Nursery School before continuing her education at Anomabu Methodist Primary and Junior High School.
She later attended Mfantsiman Girls’ Secondary School, where her interest in science began to flourish.
She pursued a degree in Physics at the University of Cape Coast before furthering her studies in climatology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy.
These academic experiences helped shape her career in climate science and strengthened her commitment to addressing the environmental challenges confronting Africa.
Prof. Klutse’s research focuses on atmospheric physics and the ways in which climate change affects critical sectors such as agriculture, water resources and public health. Her work also explores climate variability, climate modelling and solar radiation management. Through these studies, she transforms historical and projected climate data into actionable information that can guide policy decisions and help communities prepare for climate-related risks.
One of her recent research studies examined solar radiation management during the harmattan season and its possible impact on climate variability over southern West Africa. Her scholarly contributions have been widely recognised in the scientific community.
As of February 2025, she had published about 70 scholarly articles with more than 6,600 citations, highlighting the impact of her work on global climate research.
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and played a role in the development of Ghana’s National Framework for Climate Services.
In addition to her research achievements, Prof. Klutse is also a passionate educator.
At the University of Ghana, she teaches courses such as Electricity and Magnetism, Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Meteorology, Climate Change and Society, Climate Change Modelling and Research Methods. She is affiliated with both the Department of Physics and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies.
Earlier in her academic career, she taught courses including Satellite and Radar Meteorology, Cloud Physics and Atmospheric Physics at the University of Cape Coast.
Her academic influence also extends beyond Ghana. She has served as a guest lecturer at the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, where she contributed to training the next generation of climate scientists across the African continent.
Prof. Klutse has also been actively involved in shaping Ghana’s climate policies. She contributed to the country’s Second, Third and Fourth National Communications to the United
Earlier, she collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme to develop early warning systems for floods and droughts in northern Ghana, helping to improve resilience to climate-related disasters.
Beyond her scientific and policy work, Prof. Klutse is committed to community engagement and mentoring young people, particularly girls interested in science. She actively promotes women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and encourages young Ghanaian girls to pursue careers in scientific fields.
Her dedication and achievements have earned her several international recognitions, including the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Award, the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Award and the UNESCO Award on Basic Physics for Young Scientists.
Prof. Klutse is married to Dr Charles Kofi Klutse of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, and together they have three children.
Through her work in research, education and environmental governance, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse continues to make remarkable contributions to science and national development, while inspiring a new generation of African scientists committed to tackling climate change and protecting the environment. —Source UG.edu.gh
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IN the annals of Ghana’s sporting history, certain individuals stand out not merely for participating in sport, but for transforming it.
Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi is one such figures. Revered as the father of modern netball in Ghana, is widely credited with rescuing the game from near extinction and transforming it into a vibrant, structured and nationally recognised sports discipline.
His journey reflects vision, resilience and an unwavering commitment to youth and sports development.
Netball was introduced to the then Gold Coast by Christian missionaries alongside formal education. By the 1960s and early 1970s, the sport had gained remarkable popularity in schools and colleges, ranking second only to football and, in some institutions, rivaling it in appeal.
However, during the 1974/75 academic year, the Ghana Education Service (GES) took a policy decision to step down netball in favour of basketball development. The decision dealt a severe blow to the sport.
Between 1975 and 1985, competitive netball virtually disappeared from Ghana’s sporting calendar.
That decision of the GES can be blamed for the current state of the sports that is producing heroines across the globe.
The revival of the game can be traced to 1985 during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
At the time, Rev. Niikoi was serving as Chief Editor (News) in the Radio Newsroom. Understanding both the historical importance and untapped potential of netball, he championed the inclusion of a netball tournament as part of the anniversary celebrations. The event reignited public interest and reminded many of the sport’s former glory.
Crucially, Rev. Niikoi did not allow the momentum to fade after the festivities. The GBC netball team formed for the tournament, aptly named “Golden Hands,” became the cornerstone of a national revival campaign.
With determination and personal sacrifice, he led tours across the country, using the team as a practical training platform.
He personally taught sports teachers under the GES the official rules of netball, reintroduced structured competition, and restored confidence in the sport’s viability.
These efforts culminated with the formation of the Netball Association of Ghana in 1988, now known as the Netball Federation of Ghana.
In 1990, the association gained formal recognition from the National Sports Authorities, previously known as the National Sports Council (NSC), restoring netball’s status as an official sporting discipline.
This milestone marked the rebirth of organised netball in Ghana and cemented Rev. Niikoi’s place as founder of the national governing body.
Revival soon transitioned into consolidation. Over the years, Rev. Niikoi consistently lobbied educational and sports authorities to reintegrate netball into major school competitions.
His advocacy led to the sport’s reintroduction into the National Basic Schools Sports Festival, the Senior High and Technical Schools Sports Festival, the Colleges of Education games, and competitions under the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA).
Today, netball is played across the entire educational structure in Ghana, from basic schools to public universities, a testament to his sustained and strategic efforts.
On the continental and global front, Ghana is a full member of World Netball and was a founding member of the Confederation of Africa Netball Associations (CANA), now Africa Netball.
In 2004, Ghana hosted the inaugural Africa Netball Cup of Nations in Accra and emerged champions after defeating Namibia in the final. The victory not only boosted Ghana’s sporting image but also validated years of groundwork.
In 2007, Rev. Niikoi was elected Director of Marketing and Media for CANA, serving a four-year term and contributing to the sport’s development across the continent.
In 2019, following governance reforms required by the International Olympic Committee to lift sanctions related to state interference in sports administration, national federations were mandated to adopt independent constitutions. Under this new framework, the Netball Federation of Ghana successfully drafted its constitution and conducted elections.
On June 19, 2019, Rev. Niikoi was elected the federation’s first President under the independent constitutional order which is symbolic and deserved recognition of decades of service.
Beyond netball administration, Rev. Niikoi also served two terms spanning eight years from March 2018 to March 2025 as an Executive Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
His presence on the board ensured that netball maintained visibility within Ghana’s broader Olympic movement.
A Bachelor of Arts graduate in Combined Honours (History and Law), Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi has trained numerous coaches and umpires nationwide, strengthening the sport’s technical foundation and ensuring sustainability.
His leadership style combines administrative discipline with grassroots engagement, making him both a strategist and a mentor.
From dormancy to dynamism, the resurgence of netball in Ghana bears his unmistakable imprint. Through advocacy, institution-building and capacity development, Rev. Niikoi has secured a lasting legacy.
Today, every netball match played in Ghana, whether at a basic school court or a university festival stands as living testimony to his vision and perseverance.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
