The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber for Young Entrepreneurs Ghana, Mr. Sherif Ghali, has called on businesses and entrepreneurs to prioritize climate change in their operations, stressing its potential to significantly affect the global economy.
Speakingat a technological entrepreneur fair (techno-preneurship) fair organized by Data Link Institute of Business and Technology (DLIBT), he urged entrepreneurs to adopt environmentally friendly practices that not only safeguard the planet but also generate profit.
He emphasized the importance of making small yet impactful changes, noting that businesses should aim to reduce their environmental footprint.
For instance, he advised companies to shift from using paper to digital communication, highlighting how this simple step could contribute to reducing deforestation. “If all organizations decide to stop printing papers and result in online messages, it means cutting down trees to make papers will minimize, leading to a decline in deforestation and its contribution to climate change,” he stated.
Ghali also pointed out that technology offers an efficient way for businesses to minimize their impact on the environment: “Leveraging on technology can be the easier way organizations can use to minimize climate change.”
In addition, Ghali encouraged businesses to actively contribute to environmental sustainability by planting trees.
He explained that this effort could help absorb harmful gases released into the atmosphere by industrial activities.
He also emphasized the role of universities in equipping students with the skills needed to create innovative jobs, which would, in turn, help combat the high rates of unemployment.
“Entrepreneurship is the new way to go because there are no jobs to employ people. Every year, thousands of students graduate from our universities, and they are all waiting for government employment, but if these students are trained with the skills to create their jobs, it will help and reduce unemployment,” he said.
Ghali also spoke about the Chamber’s efforts to support young entrepreneurs by providing training and financial assistance, aiming to help start-ups grow into larger enterprises.
Recognizing the difficulty young entrepreneurs face in securing funding, he advised educational institutions to invite investors and agencies interested in small businesses to entrepreneur fairs, offering students a chance to connect with potential financial backers.
