On a humid July morning in Accra, the campus of the University of Ghana begins to hum with a different kind of energy. It’s not just lectures and deadlines in the air, but conversations about rivers, forests, solar panels, and the futures of girls who will one day shape them.

The 2nd Accra Conference on Environmental Education & Lifelong Learning arrives not as a routine gathering, but as a meeting of ideas grounded in purpose.

At its core, the conference—organized by the Pan African Centre for Climate Policy—explores a powerful idea: that empowering girls through STEM can unlock solutions to Africa’s most urgent environmental challenges.

Building on its inaugural edition, this year’s theme pushes further, connecting lifelong learning with climate resilience, renewable energy, conservation, and sustainable agriculture.

In a continent where traditional knowledge and modern science often intersect, the conference becomes a space where both are valued equally.

What makes this event stand out is how it blends intellectual exchange with lived experience. Visitors can expect panel discussions that move beyond theory, showcasing grassroots innovations led by young women across Africa.

There are storytelling sessions rooted in indigenous ecological wisdom—practices passed down through generations but now finding new relevance in climate conversations.

The atmosphere is collaborative rather than formal, with educators, policymakers, students, and community leaders sharing the same space and, often, the same urgency.

Step outside the conference halls, and the experience widens. Accra itself becomes part of the story. Between sessions, attendees might wander through nearby markets, sample local dishes like waakye or kelewele, or strike up conversations that continue long after the panels end.

Cultural exchanges unfold naturally—through language, food, and shared curiosity. It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t just about systems; it’s about people and how they live.

For international visitors, the conference offers a rare window into Africa’s environmental dialogue—one shaped not by distant narratives, but by those living the realities.

For Ghanaians, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with both heritage and possibility: to see how traditional practices can inform modern solutions, and how young women are stepping into roles that redefine leadership.

By the time the conference closes on July 24, the conversations won’t simply end—they’ll ripple outward. Because what begins in a lecture hall in Accra has the potential to influence classrooms, communities, and policies across the continent.

Calls for stronger government investment in Ghana’s arts sector took centre stage in Accra last week, as leading artists and academics warned that the country’s cultural momentum could stall without urgent support for infrastructure and preservation.

The appeal came during a conference organized by Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana in collaboration with TRAFO Centre for Contemporary Art. The gathering brought together artists, curators, students and cultural stakeholders to assess the state of Ghana’s art industry and its future direction.

Despite Ghana’s growing international profile in contemporary art, speakers argued that progress has largely been driven by individual effort rather than coordinated state backing.

Karikacha Seidou, Dean of the Faculty of Art at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, described the current moment as a “golden age of art,” but cautioned that the absence of sustained public investment could undermine these gains.

He pointed to the limited number of museums and galleries, alongside the neglect of public art, as key challenges facing the sector. According to him, strengthening institutional support would not only preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage but also create opportunities for emerging artists and educate younger generations.

Seidou also placed Ghana’s artistic achievements within a broader historical context, noting that many of today’s successes build on cultural foundations laid during the era of Kwame Nkrumah. He cited the global recognition of Ibrahim Mahama, who topped the ArtReview Power 100 list in 2025, as evidence of the country’s growing influence on the international art stage.

Attention also turned to the fate of Ghana’s public monuments. Adwoa Amoah, co-director of the Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana, highlighted how several historical monuments commissioned in the early post-independence period have either disappeared or fallen into obscurity following political transitions.

She said a recent exhibition by the foundation had reignited debate over whether such monuments should be restored or replaced with new forms of public art that reflect contemporary realities. For Amoah, public art remains central to shaping national identity and fostering civic dialogue.

Participants agreed that without deliberate policies and investment, Ghana risks losing parts of its cultural memory even as its contemporary art scene gains global acclaim.

The conference underscored a growing consensus: that safeguarding the nation’s artistic legacy requires not only creative energy but also sustained institutional commitment.

A The Conversation analysis examines how a surge in global oil prices—driven by geopolitical tensions disrupting supply chains—is impacting African economies differently across countries. Drawing on insights from scholars in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, the article finds that most nations are experiencing rising fuel costs, inflation, and pressure on public finances, particularly those that rely heavily on imported petroleum.

Oil Price Surge is Hurting African Economies: Scholars in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa Take Stock

Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College; Ibrahima Thiam, Université Iba Der Thiam de Thiès; Rod Crompton, University of the Witwatersrand; Tsegay Tekleselassie, Wellesley College, and XN Iraki, University of Nairobi

The attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, which started on 28 February 2026, upended key supply chains, driving oil prices above US$100 a barrel. The spike followed Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US and Israeli action. About 20% of the world’s oil supplies are transported through the strait.

In the words of the International Energy Agency:

The war in the Middle East is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.

The impact is being felt by countries across the globe. African countries are no exception, including those that produce oil.

We asked five scholars from Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya and Ethiopia to answer the question: Is the spike in oil prices hurting your country’s economy?

The answer was a uniform “yes”. The universal fear is the effect the rise in prices is having on fuel, a staple commodity in every one of the countries for ordinary people as well as industries. In some cases, such as Ethiopia, the government has already introduced fuel subsidies to shield people from the impact of having to pay more at fuel pumps.

The fear that higher prices and outright scarcity could have damaging effects, notably on food production, was also near universal.

For some there may be a silver lining: Kenya and Senegal are in the early phases of oil production. But they’re some way off reaping the benefits of higher prices. And in the case of Nigeria, the danger is that any windfall that comes its way won’t ease the economic burden faced by ordinary people.

Stephen Onyeiwu, Professor of Economics & Business, Allegheny College; Ibrahima Thiam, enseignant-chercheur, Université Iba Der Thiam de Thiès; Rod Crompton, Visiting Adjunct Professor, African Energy Leadership Centre, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand; Tsegay Tekleselassie, Visiting Lecturer in Economics, Wellesley College, and XN Iraki, Professor, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, University of Nairobi

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.