News
WIN trains 15 youth to turn Coconut waste into Charcoal briquettes
The World Inspiring Network (WIN) has organised a two-day training workshop for 15 young people in the Greater Accra Region to equip them with skills in converting coconut waste into charcoal briquettes.
This initiative, dubbed EcoFlames, aims to promote clean energy, reduce waste, and create green jobs by addressing three key challenges facing the city: mounting coconut waste, youth unemployment, and the reliance on harmful cooking fuels.
The workshop was a collaborative effort with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the International Trade Centre’s Ye! Community, and EBApreneur Solutions Limited.
Participants at the workshop were taken through waste collection, segregation, carbonisation, manual and mechanised briquette production, and the environmental and health benefits of clean energy.
They also engaged in hands-on sessions to prepare them for both small-scale and large-scale production.
Speaking on the sidelines , the Executive Director of World Inspiring Network, Maxwell Odonkor, said the EcoFlames Initiative was designed to empower young people to turn coconut husks and shells into clean-burning briquettes while starting sustainable businesses.
He explained that over 80 percent of households in Accra depended on firewood and traditional charcoal for cooking, which continued to damage the environment and expose users to health risks such as cardiovascular diseases.
Mr Odonkor added that Accra alone generated an estimated 151 tonnes of coconut waste daily, much of which ended up in open drains or landfill sites.
He said converting this waste into briquettes would not only improve sanitation but also provide affordable alternatives to traditional fuels.
He noted that the next phase of the project would involve campaigns in markets and schools to educate women, students and food vendors on the benefits of switching to clean energy.
According to him, plans are also underway to host the Green Action Summit, which is expected to bring together over 200 young people to explore innovative climate solutions.
The Project Lead for EcoFlames and Executive Secretary of WIN, Thelma Naroog Bamanteeh, said the training was intentionally designed to be practical so that participants could immediately apply the knowledge and skills acquired.
She explained that the initiative was addressing two problems at once: reducing deforestation caused by cutting trees for charcoal and tackling improper disposal of coconut waste in the city.
According to her, the NGO had plans to set up a demonstration site but the high cost of equipment remained a challenge.
She therefore appealed to the government to partner with suppliers to reduce the cost of production machines so that more young people and organisations could venture into the sector.
Ms. Bamanteeh maintained that in the long run, the project would not only create green jobs but also improve public health, protect the environment and help Ghana meet its climate action goals.
Background:
Under Phase Two in Accra, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly selected 20 youth-led projects from 59 applications.
The chosen teams received microgrants from a total budget of $100,000 to implement their projects over a six-month period.
Most of the groups have already received their funding and started work on initiatives in waste management, clean energy, urban greening and public education, with WIN’s EcoFlames Initiative among them.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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