SMILY Academy has officially launched the SMILY Academy Ghana Hub at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) for the Mediterranean, announcing climate advocate Kofi Don Agor as its inaugural Director.
The launch took place during the international forum held in Palermo from October 30 to November 1.
Kofi Don Agor, President of Climate Communications and Local Governance–Africa and Lead Advocate on Climate Change in Ghana’s Parliament, described his new role as a significant opportunity to amplify climate action and women-led sustainability initiatives.
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He said. “I am honoured to represent SMILY in Ghana and determined to engage communities, businesses, and institutions in eco-entrepreneurship and international cooperation initiatives.”
“Our team will travel to India to bring back an educational program that prioritizes innovation in agriculture and waste management — two sectors vital to Ghana’s future.”
According to SMILY Academy President, Prof. Claudia Laricchia, the decision to expand into Ghana aligns with the Academy’s mission of building regenerative ecosystems through international cooperation.
“The WEF for the Mediterranean has been the perfect occasion to strengthen our commitment in Africa. Ghana is a country of enormous potential and challenges closely tied to global sustainability issues. Together, we will co-write the ‘Women for Mother Earth Manifesto’ and inaugurate the first hydroponic forest in Assam, before replicating it in Ghana in partnership with Got Produce,” she said.
Laricchia also highlighted her recent appointment as Chair for Italy of the G100 Group on Indigenous Communities and Integration, underscoring SMILY’s growing influence in global climate leadership.
Ghana remains one of Africa’s most stable and rapidly developing economies, with strong momentum in renewable energy, youth entrepreneurship, and agricultural innovation. Yet issues such as waste management, deforestation, and climate resilience continue to pose serious challenges.
SMILY Academy aims to address these challenges using its 4D Model — Decolonization, Decentralization, Decarbonization, and Democratization — designed to promote systemic learning and regenerative innovation across communities.
As part of its global expansion, SMILY Academy facilitated a Ghanaian delegation of women entrepreneurs and sustainability leaders at WEF Mediterranean. The delegation, led by Agor, will next participate in the Earth Mother Experience in Assam, India, from March 20–26, 2026.
The initiative will bring together global changemakers to co-create the Women for Mother Earth Manifesto and launch a hydroponic forest in Assam — a model intended for replication in Ghana.
SMILY Academy is inviting partners, organizations, and changemakers worldwide to join the Earth Mother Experience 2026 and support the strengthening of South–South cooperation rooted in indigenous wisdom, experiential learning, and regenerative innovation.
About SMILY Academy
Founded during COP28 in Dubai, SMILY Academy — Sustainable Mindset and Inner Level for You/Youth — uses experiential education to build international climate cooperation. Its projects include hydroponic forest development in India, solar-powered bioengineered ponds in Benin, and a climate-focused documentary in Brazil ahead of COP30.