Ghana joined the rest of Africa to commemorate the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa with a high-level webinar focused on leveraging advanced technologies for sustainable water resources management.
The 2025 edition was hosted by GAEC in Accra, on the theme ‘Water Resources Management: The Role of Nuclear Science and Space Technology’.
Chaired by Director General-Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Prof. Paul Bosso, the event reinforced Ghana’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; specifically SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
In a keynote address delivered by Director-Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Kwamena Quaison, on behalf of Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, he emphasised the critical role science is playing in addressing Ghana’s water challenges which persist despite the country’s abundant rivers and lakes.
“Pollution, climate change and illegal mining (popularly known as galamsey) have severely impacted water quality and accessibility; conventional water management approaches are no longer sufficient. We must adopt nuclear science and space science technology for precision, efficiency and sustainability,” he added.
The minister highlighted Ghana’s progress in isotope hydrology as well as space technology for real-time earth observation as a major step to monitor and manage water quality. “These major technologies used by GAEC to trace sources of water and detect contamination from small to large scales are vital in our fight against galamsey and indiscriminate environmental practices,” he added.
Dr. Murtala Mohammed also outlined government initiatives – including the development of Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme – to provide sustainable, cheap and reliable energy and water desalination capability, as well as the forthcoming Ghana Space Policy to elevate Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into a full-fledged agency with the potential of positioning Ghana as a hub for space technology in the sub-region.
The Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Director General Prof. Francis Hasford, welcomed participants and stressed the urgency of sustainable water management amid growing threats from pollution and climate change.
Prof. Dampare cited GAEC’s use of isotope hydrology and remote sensing to monitor water resources and called for policy integration of AU’s water security frameworks, enhanced partnerships between researchers, policymakers and communities as well as increased investments in science, urging government to allocate at least 1% of GDP to research and innovation.
“Science must lead to real world solutions. We cannot achieve water security without sustainable financing for innovation,” he asserted.
Every year on June 30, the continent of Africa commemorates the Day of the Scientific Renaissance of Africa – a day set aside by the African Union (AU) to highlight the crucial and constructive role that science and technology plays in the continent’s development. In celebrating the day across Africa, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) – agencies under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) – take turns hosting the celebration.
This year’s event featured key presentations on The Role of Isotope Hydrology Technology in Water Resources Management and The Role of Remote Sensing Technology in Water Resources Management, delivered by Director-National Nuclear Research Institute Prof. Samuel Ganyaglo and Mr. Kow Ahor Essel-Yorke, representative of Director-Ghana Space Science and Technology Dr. Joseph Tandoh. It was attended by scientists, policymakers, NGOs, representatives from academia and media.
