Advocates for climate change emphasize the importance of involving students in adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
ESG comprises standards evaluating the environmental impact of company operations, employee treatment, and adherence to corporate governance.
Climate Change Advocates emphasize the importance of educating students in ESG principles to encourage the adoption of sustainable technology and renewable energy.
They emphasized that this would significantly enhance environmental management and help control air and water pollution.
Stakeholders shared their insights at the ESG and Climate Change forum, organized by the University of Ghana Business School Accounting Association, in partnership with Makers and Partners, an audit firm.
“ESG has become an important part of the business community; therefore, students must tap into its opportunities and take advantage of every learning platform to build their capacity in the field.”
The event, themed “Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices for a Sustainable Future,” was designed to engage university students. It highlighted opportunities within the ESG space and guided students through aligning their academic paths with these practices.
Professor William Coffie, Head of the Accounting Department at the University of Ghana (UG), emphasized that adopting sustainable practices can significantly lower carbon emissions and alleviate climate change impacts, promoting a safer environment for everyone.
He highlighted UG’s commitment to incorporating emerging trends into the curriculum: “Each program includes a course dedicated to ESG.”
Mr. Wilfred Neneh Addico, an Advisory Partner at Makers and Partners, highlighted that this initiative is a key aspect of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. It demonstrates their dedication to empowering youth through mentorship programs and equipping them for future leadership roles.
He explained that MAP aims to recruit highly skilled individuals and enable them to develop their expertise in consulting services locally and globally.
Mr. Michael Boateng, an ESG and Carbon Trading Consultant, highlighted opportunities in the ESG sector. He mentioned that although Ghana has passed a carbon tax law, its implementation is still pending. The law mandates that businesses submit their accounts monthly to the Ghana Revenue Authority.
“Somebody must prepare the accounts and audits, and for this reason, young people must embrace these trends to make money; for the accounting and auditing side, there is already an opportunity for them, but when it comes to carbon marketing, trading, and carbon finance, students can use carbon credit to finance their start-ups.”
Patience Dei Lamiley, Vice President of the UG Accounting Students’ Association, thanked Makers and Partners for providing the training.
