Use new technologies to preserve Ghana’s natural resources—- Mr Asoalla urges Engineers
The Chief Director of Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Solomon Asoalla has urged engineers in the country to focus on using technologies to invent and reinvent products or services that will preserve the natural resources and not deplete the environment for future generation.
He also entreated them to use renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biofuels to generate electricity.
According to a statement read on his behalf by the sector Director of Works, Mr Thomas Donkor at the 36th Annual General Meeting and Induction Ceremony of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Ghana on Thursday in Accra that was the only way to achieve sustainable development through engineering.
The two-day programme was held under the theme: “Responsible Engineering Practice, the bedrock for sustainable development in Ghana.”
Mr Asoalla explained that “sustainable engineering is the ability to use resources in possible ways that do not compromise the environment or deplete the existing one for future generations.”
He said engineers influence policy objectives and actions for implementing initiatives aimed at achieving efficiency, increased integrity of housing construction and infrastructure in general, hence had to develop the sector by using new sustainable technology inventions as a methodology in solving environmental and climate problems.
Mr Asoalla underscored the need for engineering works to align to adding value while engineers had to design products that could create good business model toward societal benefits which were viable for business development.
Mr Henry Kwadwo Boateng , the President and Council Chairman of the IET Ghana noted that the resourceful natural African soil was being destroyed and inturn has damaged habitations thus the onus was left for engineers to find a perfect solution to deal with the human and natural challenges.
He said no country could develop without engineers “this is why the United Nations has even identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” to make engineers have a clear mandate about their role in helping communities live more sustainably.
“Goals where Engineering skills will be in demand include clean water and sanitation for all (Goal 6), availability of sustainable energy sources (Goal 7), creating strong and resilient infrastructure (Goal 9) and liveable cities (Goal 11),” Mr Boateng added.
He observed that government economic situation has affected infrastructure development while deforestation, climate change and galamsey operatives had also resulted in destruction of the forest, air pollution and contamination of the water bodies and called on engineers to rise in solving the problems.
Mr Boateng charged engineers to embrace ethics and collaboratively work with researchers and other professional bodies towards attainment of the sustainable development goals in Ghana.
The event also saw the induction of five fellows, 188 engineers from six schools and the awards of three female Takoradi Technical University students.
BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE
Source: www.spotonnews.net
