The Ghana Geographers Association annual conference has been held at the  University  of Cape Coast with a call on geographers to adopt  multi-disciplinary approaches to help the country achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year’s event   was on the theme, “Ghana's Journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Perspective of Geographers."

The keynoter for the grand opening of the conference, the Head of the Ghana Statistical Service, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, called for workable strategies in order to achieve the SDGs in Ghana.

He noted that Ghana did moderately well in the attainment of some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and called on the geographers to concentrate their efforts as regards the goals from historical, current and futuristic perspectives to score points in 2030.

"While we undoubtedly need a geographer's perspective in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the efforts should be dispensed in multi- disciplinary context" he explained.

Prof. Samuel Kobina Annin, Government Statistician

Despite Ghana's preparedness to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, Prof. Annim said Ghana's frequent reportage on the SDGs was not an indication that the country was achieving the goals.

The Government Statistician  said the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)  had launched  the National Reporting Platform, a website that would serve as a key source of information with regards to the country’s progress in achieving the SDGs by 2030. He said the data uploaded unto the website "gives substantive breakdown on the number of indicators the country has been able to achieve and how those achievements were made."

Prof. Annim also added that the Service had also introduced the Voluntary National Review (VNR) to share experiences of the country in  implementing the SDGs.

According to him, the VNR also sought to strengthen government’s policies and institutions and to mobilise multi-stakeholder support and partnership for the SDGs implementation.

A section of participants in the opening ceremony

The President of the Association, Prof. Kwabena Barima Antwi, stressed the importance of geography in development. He said the concept of sustainable development of which geography played a role sought to improve the living conditions of all by promoting economic  prosperity, environmental conservation and social inclusion.

Ahead of the keynoter’s address, there were plenary presentations which featured Emeritus Professor Kofi Awusabo-Asare, Prof. David Teye Doku and Dr. Kojo Gyabaa.

The Head of the Department of Geography and Regional Planning-UCC, Prof. Benjamin Kofi Nyarku, chaired the opening ceremony on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC