Telecel Ghana showcases practical climate action at National ESG Summit

Telecel Ghana marked World Sustainability Day with a renewed commitment to practical climate action, showcasing how it integrates sustainability into its network operations, products, employee culture, and social impact initiatives.

The organisation celebrated this year’s World Sustainability Day as a premium partner of the Ghana National Climate & ESG Policy Summit 2026, organised by Intelligence Nature International under the auspices of the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability.

The summit brought together policymakers, regulators, development institutions, and private-sector leaders to discuss Ghana’s green transition and businesses' role in accelerating climate action.

Speaking during a private-sector panel discussion, Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Sustainability, Foundation and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, called for sustainability to move from complex concepts and high-level commitments to practical actions organisations, entrepreneurs, and individuals can understand and adopt.

“Sustainability cannot remain a conversation that only happens at the top, based on the assumption that everyone understands it. We need to simplify the language and connect it to the everyday decisions of organisations and individuals.

When people understand how sustainability reduces costs, strengthens resilience and improves access to customers and investors, it becomes relevant to them,” Rita said.

She encouraged organisations to start with achievable interventions, measure results, and use credible data to build toward broader climate ambitions.

“There are practical actions that corporate organisations, small businesses and individuals can take to contribute to the larger sustainability goals we want to achieve. The important thing is to start, collect the data and communicate the impact being created,” she added.

For Telecel Ghana, this approach is reflected in how the organisation integrates sustainability across its operations.

To reduce the environmental footprint of its operations, Telecel Ghana is transitioning parts of its network infrastructure to renewable energy, with 15 exchanges currently powered by solar. The investment reduces its reliance on the national grid and supports more sustainable network operations.

In August 2026, Telecel Ghana introduced its biodegradable Eco-SIM, manufactured with 90 per cent less plastic than standard SIM cards.

The organisation has also planted more than 40,000 trees across the Achimota, Chipa and South Fomangso forest reserves, contributing to reforestation and ecosystem restoration.

Its sustainability efforts also extend to digital and financial inclusion. Telecel Ghana’s services let customers complete essential transactions remotely, reducing the need to travel, costs, and associated emissions.

Its digital inclusion initiatives equip entrepreneurs, including women-led businesses, with the skills and tools to improve efficiency, access new markets and strengthen their enterprises.

According to Rita, inclusion must remain central to Ghana’s transition to a greener economy.

“As we build the communities and economies of the future, we must pay attention to who is being included. Digital and financial inclusion are essential to ensuring that the benefits of sustainable development reach entrepreneurs, small businesses and underserved communities,” she said.

Throughout the Month, Telecel Ghana also encouraged employees to make more environmentally responsible choices.

Activities included No-Plastic Days, which promoted alternatives to single-use plastics, and a Green Market that connected employees with local entrepreneurs offering environmentally responsible and locally made products.

The activities demonstrated how everyday choices can promote responsible consumption while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs advancing circular production.

The organization’s participation in the summit extended the internal campaign into a broader national conversation on climate action, sustainable finance, ESG disclosure, carbon markets and green investment.

“We recognise that sustainability is a journey and that there is still more work to be done. Our ambition is clear: connect people and organisations in ways that support a more inclusive society while progressively reducing our environmental impact. Achieving this requires collaboration across sectors, practical action and consistent measurement of progress,” Rita said.

Telecel Ghana’s sustainability agenda rests on four pillars: Responsible Business, Inclusion for All, Environmental Responsibility, and Sustainable Society.

These pillars guide how the organisation manages its operations, deploys technology, supports communities and contributes to Ghana’s sustainable development.

Through investments in renewable energy, responsible products, environmental restoration, digital inclusion and employee engagement, Telecel Ghana is working to make sustainability an enduring part of its business and the communities it serves.