Real People, Real Ideas, Real Impact
Date: June 12, 2025
Location: Marriott Hotel, Accra
Hosted by: Ashesi University, in partnership with GIZ and others
A Gathering of Bright Minds, All for a Better Planet
On June 12th, the grand hall of Marriott Hotel in Accra became more than just a venue, it became a space for meaningful conversations, bold ideas, and a shared vision for a more sustainable future.
This was the third edition of the Climate Innovation Incubation Conference, hosted by Ashesi University. The goal? To explore fresh, practical ways African businesses, especially smaller ones, can tackle climate-related challenges using smart, forward-thinking solutions.
With support from international organizations like GIZ, this event wasn’t just about theories and big talk. It was about what’s working right now, what still needs to improve, and how ordinary people and businesses can make a difference.
Women Leading the Conversation
One of the most powerful things about this year’s conference was the panel: every speaker was a woman. Not just any women, but seasoned professionals with years of experience building and leading in the corporate world.
They brought wisdom, clarity, and real-world perspective to the table. It wasn’t about flashy presentations, it was about real talk on what it takes to push for change in today’s business environment, especially when climate issues are no longer far-off worries, but present-day problems.
The Heart of the Conference:
The highlight of the day was the showcase from Ashesi University’s Cohort Incubation Program, a training and support platform that helps young entrepreneurs build climate-focused businesses.
These aren’t just clever ideas. They’re real solutions being used by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) right here in Africa to solve real environmental problems.
Some of the ideas presented included:
- Affordable ways for small farms to reduce waste and use water more wisely
- Businesses that turn waste into useful products
- Clean energy systems that don’t rely on unreliable power grids
- Strategies to help local companies lower their carbon footprint without losing money
Why This Matters:
Events like this give hope, not just for the environment, but for local economies too. Here’s why this kind of innovation matters right now:
- Empowerment through knowledge: Entrepreneurs leave with tools they can actually use, not just buzzwords.
- Economic boost: Climate-focused businesses are creating new jobs and new markets.
- Problem-solving: These ideas help tackle issues like flooding, pollution, poor waste management, and energy instability in practical ways.
- Global alignment: They position African businesses to compete and collaborate on a global scale.
The Reality Check:
As promising as these conversations and innovations are, we can’t ignore the gaps:
- Limited access to funding: Many brilliant ideas never grow because the people behind them can’t find the money to build or scale.
- Infrastructure issues: Power outages, poor internet, and unstable systems can slow down even the best climate-smart solutions.
- Policy roadblocks: Without clear government policies to support green business, progress can be frustrating and slow.
- Lack of awareness: Many business owners still see climate change as a distant problem, not something that affects their day-to-day operations.
A Step in the Right Direction
What made this conference stand out wasn’t just the discussions or the innovations, it was the sense of community and urgency. Everyone there shared a belief that while climate change is a huge challenge, it also presents an opportunity to build a better, fairer, and more sustainable way of doing business in Africa.
It’s clear that we’re not there yet. But events like the Climate Innovation Incubation Conference remind us that we’re not stuck, we’re moving, we’re learning, and we’re building something better together.
In a time where climate anxiety is rising and economic pressures are real, this event gave attendees more than just information, it gave them inspiration and direction.
And maybe that’s the biggest takeaway: climate innovation isn’t just for scientists or policymakers, it’s for all of us. It’s about how we do business, how we live, and how we build a future that works for people and the planet.
