Nana Akua leads young people in environmental action at 2026 EARTH Summit

Young environmentalist Nana Akua Dokyiwaa Karikari, a Planeteer Alliance member, has urged young people to take proactive measures in safeguarding the environment as she orchestrated Ghana’s inaugural EARTH Summit in Accra. Organized by the Planeteer Alliance, the youth division of the Captain Planet Foundation, and in collaboration with YFM Ghana, the Summit took place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Mensah Sarbah Hall, University of Ghana.

The event saw young people and community members converge for a day of environmental education, hands-on activities, and interactive sessions, all geared towards promoting greater involvement in environmental conservation. Upon welcoming attendees, Nana Akua emphasized the significance of preserving the Earth and motivated participants to acknowledge that environmental action can commence with minor actions in their daily routines.

She also conveyed gratitude to the attendees who accepted the invitation and urged them to actively engage in the activities throughout the Summit. Nana Akua's role as host stems from her prior involvement in environmental advocacy. In 2025, she hosted Ghana’s inaugural Wind Summit, where young participants were introduced to subjects such as plastic waste management, source separation, recycling, upcycling, and environmental leadership.

At this year's EARTH Summit, the emphasis expanded to encompass tree planting, waste management, and providing young people with opportunities to actively contribute to environmental endeavors. The agenda featured a presentation by Toluwalase Abiona, West African Regional Coordinator of the Planeteer Alliance, who acquainted participants with the Alliance, elaborated on its operations, and showcased the advantages and possibilities available to young people who join the network.

Following the session, participants engaged in a practical tree-planting exercise, led by Mr. Asare Kuffour, Head of Science at Mary Mother of Good Counsel School. Each participant was also bestowed with a Veitchia palm seedling to plant at home, enabling them to continue the environmental lessons learned from the Summit beyond the event.

The program subsequently delved into waste management, with Heneba Kwadwo Safo, leader of the BuzStopBoys, facilitating a practical session on source separation. Participants learned how to segregate waste accurately and engaged in games designed to facilitate a better understanding and application of the concept. For Nana Akua, hosting the Summit represented another platform to engage young people on environmental stewardship and illustrate that they can make a difference in protecting the planet, irrespective of their age.