Ghana and the United Nations Organization for industrial development (UNIDO) advance their plans to establish a Circular Economy Innovation Center and textile tests.

The Innovation Center is an essential part of a UNIDO project financed by Italy and put in works in collaboration with the Ghanaian Ministry of Commerce, Food and Industry. This project aims to strengthen solutions circular economy in the textile and second-hand clothing sector. The initiative was presented during a courtesy visit from UNIDO to the Ghanaian embassy in Rome.

This project aims to respond to pressures increasing environmental impacts linked to Ghana's position as a destination major player in the world trade in second-hand clothing. Around 15 million clothes arrive every week in Ghana, mainly at the market of Kantamanto in Accra, almost 40% of which end up being thrown away, contributing to pollution of drainage systems, lagoons and coastal areas.

The approach of UNIDO aims to go beyond the simple management of waste to promote value creation by integrating innovation, trials and industrial links within the Ghanaian textile ecosystem. One mapping and validation work is in progress in order to identify a suitable host institution for the center; Accra and Kumasi are currently under study. The University Science and Technology Kwame Nkrumah (knust ) has established herself as a candidate of choice thanks to her technical abilities and its expertise in textile research.

Mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"> This initiative operates in parallel with a separate UNIDO program Funded by Canada. The Ghana launched the Ghanaian Center for the Circular Economy in 2025, a project of 7.5 million Canadian dollars implemented by Mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"> UNIDO ; mso-fareast-font-family:calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: “Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:fr; Mso-fareast-language:en-us; Mso-bidi-language:ar-sa">Over a period of five years in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, with funding from Mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"> Business Worlds Canada.