The Grassroots Innovation Scouting Approach in Ghana Towards the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals


Authors : Dr. Michael Adusei-Nsowah; Dr. Fred Adusei Nsowah; Akua Benewaa Yeboa- Amo; Samuel Andy Afari; Enock Yeboah

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November


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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov483

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Abstract : The sustainable Development Goals 2030 shows that developing countries need to focus programs to enhance knowledge and skills of the people. However, it is difficult for most of the young people in Sub-Sahara African countries to achieve a basic standard of living with large number of these countries struggling with poverty and limited opportunities to descent life for the people. Innovation has been identified as potential economic growth and development with new discoveries in developing new products using new ways to increase productivity of improve the basic life of the people. It is also a catalyst for economic growth and development, with new discoveries in developing new products and solutions using new ways to increase productivity. Grassroots innovations is the bottom-up approach to promote inclusive innovation among diverse youth populations, especially young people who do not usually benefit from traditional innovation initiative (atypical actors), and marginalized groups including women, persons living in rural communities and persons with disabilities. This study examined the demographics characteristics of grassroots innovators in Ghana and their sectors of innovations toward the achievement of sustainable development goals in Ghana. The study applied questionnaire for 731 innovators scouted by PHG Foundation from four Regions of Ghana for the Young African Innovates Program in Ghana. The study finding revealed that the grassroots innovators in Ghana are atypical people with low education background, youth between the ages of 18-35 and from the rural communities of Ghana. Further, the study identified 16 sectors of innovations under the health innovation, education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) innovation, agricultural innovation and women and Persons with Disability (PWD) support innovation to enhance the achievement of 8 sustainable development goals in Ghana. The study suggested the need for grassroots innovation education in Ghana to enhance the socio-economic development at all levels.

Keywords : Grassroots Innovation, Sustainable Development Goals, Sectors of Innovation.

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The sustainable Development Goals 2030 shows that developing countries need to focus programs to enhance knowledge and skills of the people. However, it is difficult for most of the young people in Sub-Sahara African countries to achieve a basic standard of living with large number of these countries struggling with poverty and limited opportunities to descent life for the people. Innovation has been identified as potential economic growth and development with new discoveries in developing new products using new ways to increase productivity of improve the basic life of the people. It is also a catalyst for economic growth and development, with new discoveries in developing new products and solutions using new ways to increase productivity. Grassroots innovations is the bottom-up approach to promote inclusive innovation among diverse youth populations, especially young people who do not usually benefit from traditional innovation initiative (atypical actors), and marginalized groups including women, persons living in rural communities and persons with disabilities. This study examined the demographics characteristics of grassroots innovators in Ghana and their sectors of innovations toward the achievement of sustainable development goals in Ghana. The study applied questionnaire for 731 innovators scouted by PHG Foundation from four Regions of Ghana for the Young African Innovates Program in Ghana. The study finding revealed that the grassroots innovators in Ghana are atypical people with low education background, youth between the ages of 18-35 and from the rural communities of Ghana. Further, the study identified 16 sectors of innovations under the health innovation, education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) innovation, agricultural innovation and women and Persons with Disability (PWD) support innovation to enhance the achievement of 8 sustainable development goals in Ghana. The study suggested the need for grassroots innovation education in Ghana to enhance the socio-economic development at all levels.

Keywords : Grassroots Innovation, Sustainable Development Goals, Sectors of Innovation.

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