By Benjamin Akoto
Sunyani, Oct. 9, GNA – Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister has called on geoscientists to explore alternative and efficient ways of protecting the nation’s natural resources, in the wake of destruction of water bodies, environment and vegetative cover.
He said the nation’s forest and natural resources ought to be harnessed to spur economic growth and development, saying sustainable management of natural resources remained essential for sustainable development.
Madam Owusu-Banahene made the call when addressing the opening session of the Fourth Biennial National Conference of the Ghana Institute of Geoscientists (GhIG), underway in Sunyani.
The four-day conference, on the theme, “strategic natural resources exploration and exploitation: guarantee for sustainable development,” is being attended by members of the Institute and geoscientists from other African countries.
It has created opportunities for experts, professionals, academic researchers, and students to share knowledge and experiences explore innovative ideas, and to enhance professional skills in geoscience, and further fosters networking and collaborative research projects between the industry and academia.
Madam Owusu-Banahene commended the GhIG for their dedication to advancing crucial dialogues and providing leadership in the natural resources sector and asked them to do more to promote sustainable development.
She said the growing complexity of global challenges including climate change, urbanization and resource management had made Geographic Information Systems (GISs) indispensable.
The GISs would therefore facilitate precise data collection, spatial analysis, and visualisation that would empower decision-makers to comprehend patterns and relationships within the ecosystem.
Mr Crisler Akwei Ankrah, the President of GhIG, stressed the importance of responsible resource management in the mining sector, and highlighted the urgent need for the nation to tackle emerging challenges in the sector.
In an overview, he explained that the conference sought to develop immediate, short-term, and long-term strategies that would be implemented at various levels of government that would help tackle water pollution and protect the nation’s forest cover.
Mr Ankrah underlined the need for the nation to put in place drastic measures to tackle illegal mining activities and regulate the sector for the nation to derive the optimum economic benefit.
“Sustainable practices are not optional, but essential for preserving the natural environment and also promoting economic growth and livelihoods,” he stated.
Mr Isaac Mwinbelle, the Acting Director General of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, said the Authority was currently conducting Geo-physical surveys in parts of the country to identify mineral zones.
That would help the country allocate specific areas for small-scale mining activities, he stated, adding, the Authority was also conducting geochemical sampling to support sustainable mining practices for small-scale activities.
These efforts remain crucial in tackling emerging challenges within the mining sector, Mr Mwinbelle stated.
GNA