Launch of ICESDA 2025 slated for Wednesday, October 15 at GIMPA

Accra is set to host the launch of the International Conference on Environment, Social, Governance, and Sustainable Development 2.0 tomorrow, October 15, 2025 GIMPA. The event aims to drive momentum toward Africa’s transition to green and sustainable growth.

The launch will bring together key players in the environmental sector, including government officials, academics, development partners, and industry leaders, to share insights on integrating environmental and social governance into national development agendas.

The initiative is expected to set the stage for broader discussions on sustainability and innovation, promoting collective action to address Africa’s pressing environmental and climate challenges.

Organisers say it will take place at the GIMPA Executive Conference Center, where participants will have the opportunity to join either in person or online.

The international event, themed on “From Cradle to Cradle: Putting ESG and Sustainability First in Africa’s Green Transition Effort,” will feature researchers and lecturers from both local and foreign universities.

The keynote speakers include Emeritus Professor George Ofori, London South Bank University; Rev. Professor Joseph Ignatius Teye Buertey, Pentecost University (Ghana); Professor Wellington Didibhuku Thwala, Walter Sisulu University (South Africa); Professor Clinton Aigbavboa, University of South Africa and Professor David John Edwards, Birmingham City University.

Others are Prof. Ebenezer Adaku, Deputy Rector GIMPA, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, Vice Chancellor Accra Technical University; Professor Nnamdi Nwulu, University of Johannesburg; Professor Rexford Assasie Oppong, Faculty of Built Environment, KNUST and Professor De-Graft Owusu-Manu, Africa Centre for Doctoral Studies.

The Green Communities  International is partnering institutions in both academia and industry to organize the green energy event. The entities include the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Pentecost University and the National Communications Authority (NCA).

The conference will also feature two panel workshops over the 48-hour period, organizers have confirmed.

The first panel which will be moderated by Dr. Charles Ofori will involve six panelists, all of whom are well-versed in green energy. The discussions will focus on Ghana’s quest towards achieving a nationally determined contribution target to sustainable energy.

The second panel will explore innovative ways of financing sustainable development. Involving five panelists, the conversation will be moderated by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Professor Samuel Antwi.

This is the second time the conference is organized. The first edition was held from 27–28 March 2024 in Kumasi, under the theme “Enhancing Environment, Social, Governance and Sustainability for Africa’s Development”.

This year’s event comes at a time when questions about the feasibility of sustainable development and green energy production are on the rise.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Africa needs nearly $150 billion per year just to fulfil its climate commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

It adds that a huge shortfall in external support coupled with weak internal resource mobilization which include taxes and domestic resource base, are worsening the continent’s capacity to achieve its green transition objectives.

However, stakeholders who are set to attend this conference are expected to map out a clear and feasible roadmap aimed at addressing these age-old challenges directly.

Interested participants are encouraged to register ahead of time to enable organisers make the necessary provisions. This can be done via https://icesda.greencommunitiesgh.com/registration/