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Annual Lecture in the Sciences-2024 – Sustainable Mining is Key to Ghana’s Long-Term Development – Prof. Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo

About the Speaker

Prof. Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo, FGA

Professor of 

Prof. (Mrs.) Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo, a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) and a leading expert in Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering, has called for the adoption of responsible mining practices to mitigate environmental destruction in Ghana’s gold mining sector. She was speaking at the Kwame Nkrumah Auditorium at GAAS during the Annual lecture in the Sciences on October 3, 2024, in Accra.  

In her lecture titled “Gold Beneficiation in Ghana: Promoting Sustainable Practices”, she outlined how unregulated Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) activities popularly known as galamsey contribute to deforestation, water pollution, and land degradation. She also emphasized the pressing need for reform, particularly in ASM operations.

Ghana was ranked the sixth-largest gold producer globally in 2023, deriving about 95% of its mineral revenue from gold. However, Prof. (Mrs.) Akuffo cautioned, that without proper management, the environmental consequences of illegal mining will continue to undermine the benefits that gold mining brings to Ghana’s economy.

The call to action comes as GAAS advocates for immediate measures to halt illegal mining in forest reserves and water bodies. She further highlighted the need for stricter regulatory enforcement in the ASM sector and promoted innovative beneficiation techniques to ensure that gold extraction does not leave a trail of destruction.

The event chairperson, Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi, stressed the significance of education in addressing the national disaster caused by illegal mining.  She lauded Prof. (Mrs.) Akuffo’s significant contributions to academia and the mining industry and emphasized the importance of collective efforts from the mining industry, academia, and government in addressing the environmental challenges posed by mining in Ghana.

As a Fellow of GAAS and a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability in mining, Prof. (Mrs.) Akuffo continues to dedicate her career to promoting responsible mining techniques, especially within the ASM sector. Her work continues to inspire a balanced approach to economic growth and environmental preservation in Ghana’s mining industry.

The lecture attracted various stakeholders, including fellows from GAAS, representatives from the media, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MESTI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and students from the University of Mines and Energy in Tarkwa.  

Additionally, students from some Senior High Schools (SHS) such as Presec, Accra Academy, and Tarkwa School of Mines were present at the event.

GAAS was established in 1959 at the directive of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to foster the exploration, progression, and distribution of knowledge across all fields of science and the humanities.

The annual lecture in the Sciences forms part of GAAS’s mission to promote the generation, acquisition, dissemination, and application of knowledge for national development by fostering education and research.

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