SMILY Academy officially inaugurated its new hub in Ghana, appointing Kofi Don Agor as its Director.
Smily Academy is a groundbreaking initiative founded by ‘The Forest Man’ of India, Jadav Moloi Payeng; Claudia Laricchia, Rituraj Phukan, Matteo Salerno and Munmuni Payeng.
It is aimed at bringing transformative change by aligning international youth, cutting-edge technologies, and indigenous wisdom to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges by swiftly translating ideas into viable businesses.
Don-Agor’s appointment was made during the Women Economic Forum (WEF) for Mediterranean, held in Palermo from October 30 to November 1, 2025.
He is the President of Climate Communications and Local Governance-Africa and the Lead Advocate on Climate Change in the Ghanaian Parliament.
He is also a member of the Climate Reality Project, founded by Nobel Laureate Al Gore.
“The WEF for the Mediterranean has been the perfect occasion to strengthen our commitment in Africa, reaffirming the importance of building from solid ecosystems united by shared values to co-create impactful international cooperation projects starting from education,” Prof. Claudia Laricchia, President of SMILY Academy said.
“Ghana is a country of enormous potential and challenges that are deeply interconnected with the major issues humanity is facing. At WEF, we brought a Ghanaian delegation of women entrepreneurs led by Kofi Don Agor. “After Palermo, our Ghanaian delegation will join Earth Mother Experience, taking place in Assam, India, from March 20–26, 2026, an initiative designed to experience, co-create, and celebrate the culture, history, and indigenous wisdom of a region iconic for its biodiversity and home to the World Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Justice.
“Together, we will co-write the ‘Women for Mother Earth Manifesto’ and inaugurate the first hydroponic forest in Assam, which we will then replicate in Ghana in partnership with Got Produce, a global leader in hydroponic innovation,” Prof Laricchia added.
The Ghanaian delegation at WEF included a group of women entrepreneurs and leaders from diverse fields committed to sustainability, innovation, and women’s empowerment.
“I am honoured to represent SMILY in Ghana and determined to engage communities, businesses, and institutions in eco-entrepreneurship and international cooperation initiatives,” said Kofi Don Agor, newly appointed Director of SMILY Ghana.
“We will travel to India to learn, connect, and bring back an educational program that focuses on innovation for the agriculture and waste management sectors — two of Ghana’s most crucial development areas.”
Why Ghana?
With a population of over 33 million and one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, Ghana is a regional leader in stability and innovation, particularly in renewable energy, agriculture, and youth entrepreneurship.
However, it faces critical challenges related to waste management, deforestation, and climate resilience, areas where SMILY Academy’s integrative and systemic learning model can catalyze transformative impact.
A Global Movement for Regenerative Futures SMILY Academy’s expansion to Ghana marks a new milestone in its global strategy of South–South cooperation, fostering exchange between Africa, Asia, and Latin America
through its 4D Model — Decolonisation, Decentralisation, Decarbonization, and Democratisation.
Following WEF Mediterranean, Prof. Claudia Laricchia was also appointed Chair for Italy of the G100 Group on Indigenous Communities and Integration, an additional sign that SMILY’s path aligns with global leadership efforts to empower communities and reimagine sustainable development.
“Through our collaboration with WEF — which represents a network of over 500,000 women across 150 countries — we will bring to Ghana a worldwide community of entrepreneurs, activists, young leaders, institutions, journalists, and changemakers determined to do their part for a regenerative future,” Prof. Laricchia added.
Call to action
SMILY invites partners, organisations, and individuals across continents to join the Earth Mother Experience 2026 in India and support the rise of South–South cooperation networks rooted in shared learning, indigenous wisdom, and regenerative innovation.
Together, we are building the next generation of leaders for people and planet. Join us from March 20 to 26 for the Earth Mother Experience: The Earth Mother Experience.
