SYND GenZs seeks transparency on CBI Ghana $20m cement project

The youth platform of the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND GenZs) has called for immediate transparency regarding environmental and social safeguards for CBI Ghana’s low-carbon cement project. The group is pressing the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and CBI Ghana for public updates, citing concerns that critical commitments intended to mitigate the project's impact have not been addressed.

In November 2025, the IFC approved a $20 million funding package for the project, which was tied to a 12-point Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP). This plan was established to ensure the facility adhered to international sustainability and safety standards. However, SYND GenZs reports that several key deadlines within the ESAP have passed without any visible progress or public disclosure. The youth group noted that their direct attempts to engage with CBI Ghana for clarification have so far yielded no response.

Central to the advocacy group's demands is the need for clarity on emissions reductions and the rigorous monitoring of air quality in the Tema industrial area. SYND GenZs highlighted that pollution levels in Tema have been on the rise, making the environmental performance of the new cement facility a matter of urgent public interest. The group is calling for the release of environmental monitoring data to verify that the project’s low-carbon claims are being met in practice.

While SYND GenZs stated they remain open to constructive dialogue with CBI Ghana, they emphasized that public accountability is essential for projects receiving international green financing. This move reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny by Ghanaian youth organizations over industrial projects, as they seek to ensure that large-scale investments do not come at the expense of local environmental health and safety.