By Benjamin Akoto
Sunyani, (Bono), June 18, GNA – The Earth Observations for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) has honoured Mr Omar Seidu, the Head of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Mr Seidu was awarded during the 2025 GEO Global Forum held in Rome Italy for his innovative work towards integrating citizen science data into official national statistics.
Other Ghanaian experts, Dr Foster Mensah from the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services (CERGIS) and Professor Amos Kabo-Bah, Co-Chair of the GEO Programme Board, also showcased Ghanaâs growing influence in the realms of global earth observation and sustainability initiatives during the forum.
Prof Kabo-Bah, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said the award recognized exceptional contributions of individuals towards the attainment of set targets for the global goals 17 through innovative application of earth observation data and technology.
âThe prestigious international award underscores Mr Seiduâs leadership in fostering a partnership between the GSS and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)â, he stated.
Prof Kabo-Bah said: âThis collaboration has positioned Ghana as the first country to incorporate citizen-generated data on marine plastic pollution into the official national statistics submitted to the UN SDG global databaseâ, describing the marine plastic monitoring project as a ârevolutionary model for environmental data collection and policy developmentâ.
âThe data collected is directly contributing to the formulation of Ghana’s integrated coastal and marine management policy, illustrating how local innovations can effectively shape national strategies,â he added.
âAs Co-Chair, I play a vital role in shaping GEO’s global strategy, as Dr Mensah has been instrumental in enhancing Ghana’s technical capabilities for earth observation applications across various sectors, including agriculture, urban planning, and environmental monitoring,â Prof Kabo-Bah stated.
He said: âThe collective achievements of Mr Seidu, Dr Mensah, and myself directly support the policy objectives of enhancing national capacity in space science and technology applications for sustainable development.â
Prof Kabo-Bah added that âour work exemplifies the effective integration of earth observation technologies, satellite data applications, and geospatial information systems, which remain key components driving Ghanaâs space science ambitions.â
âOur combined effort is emblematic of Ghanaâs commitment to employing data-driven approaches and fostering international collaborations to address environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development across West Africa and beyond,â he stated.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Christian Akorlie