By Rebecca Ekpe
Sakafia SHS in Kumasi, located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, the winners of the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize, have shared how their project is making a difference in their community.
It goes beyond just winning an award. It goes beyond simply helping the students, the people, and their community. This is a story about life, a story of how people can be positively impacted daily by food and their environment. The Sakafia Islamic Senior High School, winner of the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Global High Schools – Sub-Saharan Africa category, shared their story with GBC’s Editor-in-Chief, Rebecca Ekpe.
About the Project
Q: Can you elaborate on your award-winning aquaponics project and how it addresses food insecurity in your community?
A: Our project, “Aquaponic Farming for All,” grows fish and vegetables together using water instead of soil. It helps fight hunger by providing people with fresh, healthy food all year round.
Q: How does your project integrate aquaculture and hydroponics, and what are the benefits of this approach?
A: Fish live in tanks, and their waste makes the water rich in nutrients. This water is used to grow plants. The plants then clean the water, which goes back to the fish. It saves water, produces food, and doesn’t require soil.
Q: What inspired you to develop this project, and how did you overcome the challenges you faced?
A: Students came up with the idea to help their community grow food in a better way. At first, we didn’t receive much support, but some teachers stepped in, and we eventually found support from people outside the school.
Impact and Sustainability
Q: How do you plan to sustain and expand your project in the long term?
A: We’ll use money from selling our vegetables and fish to keep the system running. We’ll also train more students, work with other groups, and improve the system to grow more food.
Q: What impact do you expect your project to have on the local community, and how will you measure its success?
A: It will help provide fresh food and educate students and others about sustainable farming. We’ll measure success by the amount of food we grow and the number of people who participate in the project.
Q: How does your project contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
A: It supports ending hunger (Goal 2), improves education (Goal 4), promotes clean water use (Goal 6), and helps fight climate change (Goal 13).
Education and Community Engagement
Q: How will you incorporate your project into your school’s curriculum, and what opportunities will it provide for students?
A: We’ll include it in science and agriculture classes. Students will learn how to grow food in a smart and eco-friendly way and may even be inspired to start their own projects.
Q: What plans do you have for engaging the local community and promoting sustainable agriculture practices?
A: We’ll invite community members to come and learn, organize training sessions, and demonstrate how to grow food using aquaponics.
Q: How do you think your project can serve as a model for other schools and communities in Ghana and beyond?
A: It’s simple, low-cost, and easy to replicate. We want to share what we’ve learned so others can start similar projects.
Future Plans and Collaboration
Q: What are your plans for the project, and how do you see it evolving in the next few years?
A: We want to grow more food, add solar power, and create a small learning centre for farming and sustainability.
Q: Are there any potential collaborations or partnerships that you are exploring to support your project?
A: Yes, we are speaking with NGOs, tech companies, and other schools to receive support, training, and new ideas.
Q: How do you think your project can contribute to Ghana’s national development priorities and sustainability goals?
A: It supports Ghana by increasing food production, teaching young people valuable skills, and helping the country address climate change.
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges. A tribute to the legacy and vision of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize aims to drive sustainable development worldwide.
In line with the mission of finding innovative solutions to today’s challenges, Sakafia Senior High School is optimistic about the impact, community engagement, and long-term sustainability of its project. The initiative goes beyond achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, it fosters a collective effort to ensure food security by teaching the next generation vital skills and helping Ghana tackle the larger issue of climate change for the benefit of future generations.
