The Koforidua Technical University, through its Faculty of Built and Natural Environment, launched the Center for Sustainable Development (CenSuD) on Friday, September 2, 2022, at the Abba Bentil Theater of the University.
Speakers and guests who graced the programme include the Chairperson of Environment, Science and Technology Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Dr Emmanuel Marfo, as well as the deputy ranking member of the public accounts committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Mr Davis Opoku Ansah.
Other dignitaries in attendance were Prof. Clinton Aigbavboa, the Director of the CIBD center of excellence and sustainable human settlement and Construction Research Center at the University of South, University of Johannesburg and Mrs Joyce Larnyoh, the Co-Chairperson of the Ghana Civil Societies platform on Sustainable Development Goals and Country Director for International Child Development Program.
The Vice-Chancellor of KTU, Prof. David Kofi Essumang, who served as the Chairman of the launch, urged academia, Civil society organizations (CSOs), and government to collaborate and collectively advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure its attainment by 2030.
A lecturer at KTU, Dr Simon Ofori (left) seen in the gathered audience.
In his welcome speech, Dr Prince Boateng, Dean of the Faculty of Built and Natural Environment, noted that the Center aims to produce cutting-edge research and insights to advance global sustainable development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana and beyond.
Additionally, he added that the Center’s major areas of focus would be performing cutting-edge research, offering advocacy and advisory services on policies related to the SDGs, and providing training and development based on feedback from industry and research outputs.
The Chairperson of the Environment, Science and Technology Committee of Parliament, who is also a Sustainability advocate, Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, in his address, tasked academia and CenSuD with developing a framework for evaluating the performance of the various sectors of government on the achievement of the SDGs since Parliament has oversight responsibility over the executive.
The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Hon. Davis Opoku Ansah lauded the setting up of the Centre as timely and very relevant as Parliament at the committee level requires such institutions to offer advisory services in policy and law-making.
The creation of CenSuD is a practical demonstration of the commitment of the Koforidua Technical University to contribute its quota toward finding long-term and innovative solutions to global and local problems.
Madam Joyce Larnyoh, on the part of Civil Society organizations, commended the University for establishing such a Centre. She stated that CSOs have taken the lead and champion the SDGs in Ghana, but their efforts can yield fruitful results with the involvement of academia.
She, therefore, pledged the willingness of the CSOs’ platform on SDGs to collaborate with CenSuD in pursuing the implementation of the SDGs in Ghana.
The Director of the Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research Centre of the University of Johannesburg, in his presentation on “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” painted a dire picture of the current state of the planet and the situation of increasing levels of consumption as a result of the increase in population growth which is beyond the earth’s carrying capacity.
He implored the Centre to champion the SDGs through in-depth research and advocacy, to shape the policy direction of government in accomplishing the SDGs
The Dignitaries, after the launch, commissioned the office of the Centre for Sustainable Development.
Source: Dr. Simon Ofori Ametepey