MLNR-PR UPDATES
The 56th Annual General Meeting and 20th Surveyors Week of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) were commemorated with a Presidential Lecture on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Accra.
Key stakeholders gathered for the event, which had as its theme “Combating Galamsey: A Pandemic Approach to Eradicating Illegal Mining in Ghana,” to discuss the urgent problem of illicit mining in the nation.
The event’s co-chairperson, Professor Patrick Agbesinyale, Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, spoke to the group of qualified surveyors. He highlighted the importance of surveyors in restoring the integrity of the land sector and improving the standing of the surveying profession while considering the history of surveying in Ghana.
According to Professor Agbesinyale, unlawful mining is a pandemic that needs to be addressed together. Although foreigners are interested in Ghana’s gold deposits, he pointed out that it is imperative to expel foreign criminals and motivate Ghanaians to normalize and regulate mining operations.
“One of the downsides of galamsey is the rise in kidney diseases, and research has established the fact that kidney problems have become epidemic. So we need to take action now, otherwise, we are heading for danger,” he cautioned.
The lecture’s co-chair, Dr. Francis Boateng Agyenim, director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Institute of Industrial Research, voiced worry over Ghana’s unlawful mining efforts to extract money.
He bemoaned the participation of elites who carry out such actions for their own benefit even though they are aware of the negative consequences.
Dr. Agyenim gave the audience his word that the talk would be a useful forum for debates and encourage practical ways to slow down environmental deterioration. He emphasized how critical it is to advance sustainable methods that put Ghanaians’ health and wellbeing first.
Surveyor Dr. Anthony Arko-Adjei, President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, gave the keynote address and emphasized the economic benefits of gold mining, which contributes 40% of foreign exchange revenues and 5.7% of GDP.
He did, however, warn that illicit mining had serious negative effects on the environment and society.
Illegal mining should be viewed as a serious public health concern, Dr. Arko-Adjei urged. He also described how it affects the Built Environment, including land administration, urban planning, survey infrastructure, and water quality.
He suggested a number of preventative strategies to deal with the issue, including determining social issues, evaluating natural elements, enlisting community informants, and fortifying the judicial system.
Through ongoing professional development and service to its members and the public, the event reaffirmed GhIS’s dedication to advancing innovation and best practices in the surveying profession.
Source: newsthemegh.com