Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to the safe and sustainable management of Ghana’s natural resources.
The government, he said, would ensure a balance between industrial development and environmental protection.
Alhaji Sulemana was speaking at the opening of a five-day International symposium on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM XI) in Accra on Tuesday.
The symposium is on the theme: “Broadening Optimisation in Industrial Processes Involving NORM: A Focus on Sustainability in Extractive Industries.”
It would provide the platform for industry, technical, scientific, academia and regulatory bodies involved in the management of NORM to discuss current issues and share scientific and technical knowledge.
Alhaji Sulemana said Ghana was deeply honoured to host the prestigious global event, making it the second African country, after Morocco, to do so.
The milestone, he noted, reflected Ghana’s growing reputation as a hub for scientific excellence, environmental stewardship, and radiation safety in Africa.
He highlighted the importance of natural resources to economic and industrial growth, however, their extraction and processing must be guided by strict safety and sustainability measures to prevent over exploitation.
“This year’s theme reminds us of the dual nature of our natural resources. While they fuel our economies and drive industrial growth, they also pose environmental and health challenges that require collective vigilance, innovation, and responsibility,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said NORM was prevalent in several sectors in Ghana, including mining, oil and gas, fertilizer production, cement manufacturing, and even water treatment and scrap metal recycling.
While those sectors contributed significantly to national development, their by-products could contain radionuclides that posed occupational and environmental risks if not properly managed.
He described the symposium as a vital platform for collaboration among scientists, regulators, industry practitioners, and policymakers, to share knowledge, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and build technical capacity for effective and sustainable management of the NORM.
Alhaji Sulemana encouraged participants to engage actively, exchange ideas, and develop actionable strategies that integrated scientific research, policy, and industrial practice to enhance radiation protection and promote sustainable industry operations.
He assured of Ghana’s continued collaboration with international partners, particularly the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to strengthen national capacity in radiation safety and environmental management.
“As a government, we remain firmly committed to supporting your research, innovation, and regulation in this field,” he added.
“We will continue to build partnerships that ensure the benefits of industrial development are achieved without compromising the health of our people or the integrity of our environment.”
Professor Samuel Dampare, the President, NORM XI, said the NORM symposia had evolved over the years from initial awareness and data sharing efforts into a globally coordinated framework, addressing regulation, safety, sustainability, and innovation.
Recent symposia had emphasised experience sharing, regulatory harmonisation, and best practices in occupational protection, environmental monitoring, remediation, and stakeholder engagement, he noted.
“Today, we gather for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting Ghana’s commitment and leadership in this field.”
Prof. Dampare said Ghana was experiencing growth in industries and practices where NORM management was increasingly relevant, making the symposium both timely and meaningful.
“May we be driven by the understanding that in broadening optimisation, we stand not only for efficiency, but also responsibility, stewardship, and shared progress,” he said.
“Indeed, every optimised process brings us closer to a world where industry and the environment thrive together.”
Source: GNA
The post Ghana government reaffirms commitment to safe, sustainable management of natural resources appeared first on Ghana Business News.
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