The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in fulfillment of its mandate to produce a skillful local human resource base for Ghana’s extractive sector, is equipping itself with new technologies to be more relevant to both the mining industry as well as communities facing environmental challenges from mining.
As a result, UMaT, with support from the Danish Embassy has secured an 8.6 million Euro ultramodern environmental monitoring laboratory including four mobile laboratory vans.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jerry Sylvanus Yao Kumah, who spoke at the inauguration in Tarkwa said the environmental monitoring technology is crucial at this time Ghana is facing intense environmental pollution.
“In 2009, the University submitted a request through the Ministry of Education to establish the laboratory through DANIDA and mixed-tied credit facility. The laboratory formed part of the plans to establish the Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering in the University. Approval was, therefore, given for this in June 2013 and the contract for the establishment of the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory signed between UMaT and DESMI Contracting of Denmark at a contract value of €8, 626,306 with DANIDA providing a cash grant of €785,583 in 2016. However, installation and commissioning of equipment completed in the first quarter of 2019. ”
Prof. Kumah urged mining companies to stop sending their samples abroad for testing and rather patronize laboratory.
He said the laboratory would among other things be used for monitoring mining air, and water pollution levels, as well as provide research and services to the EPA.
“In our mission to become a centre of excellence in Ghana and Africa, the main objectives of the project are to promote and improve the provision of teaching and research activities at the university conduct consultancies for mining and allied companies as part of extension services in water analysis, blast monitoring and community training. The changing face of environmental related challenges must, therefore, be of interest to all stakeholders especially considering the extent of environmental degradation that we have witnessed in recent years.”
The Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Tove Degnbol, whose country assisted the project, said this goes to strengthen the Danish government’s development support relationship with Ghana.
“Denmark and Ghana share a longstanding relationship in areas such as water and sanitation, health, rural roads, decentralization and anti-corruption, hence DANIDA Business Finance approved the application to sponsor the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory. It is expected that this contributes to a better environment by providing access to the test of water quality, soil conditions, air pollution and general health conditions as well as support the education of environmental engineers. This can be used by stakeholders, including government authorities, local communities and civil society to take necessary steps to protect the environment, especially when assessing proposed new industrial or mining operations in a local community”.
A representative of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Alexander Kwaning who attended the event said strategic collaboration in research for development is key to industrialization in the wake of harsh realities of climate change and other environmental challenges,
He therefore commended the partnership between UMaT and the Danish Embassy.
Source: citinewsroom.com
