Accra: The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) has called upon professionals to embrace digital innovations and continuous learning to maintain professional standards and remain competitive. Dr. Anthony Arko Adjei, President of GhIS, emphasized this at the launch of the 20th Surveyors' Week and the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Institution held in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the conference, themed 'Harnessing and Projecting Surveying Competencies as a Catalyst for National Development,' would focus on critical areas such as land administration, urbanisation and infrastructure, property taxation, environmental sustainability, and cost estimation in public projects. The event aims to provide a platform for exchanging ideas, developing innovative solutions, and influencing policies that drive sustainable national progress.
Dr. Adjei highlighted the pivotal role of surveyors in shaping Ghana's infrastructure, real estate, and environmental sustainability. He stressed the importance of being technologically savvy in the face of ongoing transformations in the surveying field due to advancements in artificial intelligence and geospatial technologies. These technologies improve data accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making in urban planning and environmental management.
The president of GhIS also underscored the need for enhanced land governance through digital land records and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that approximately 80 per cent of legal disputes in Ghana are linked to land conflicts. With Ghana's urban population projected to exceed 65 per cent by 2030, surveyors are encouraged to leverage cutting-edge geospatial technologies and cost estimation methods to support the development of resilient cities.
Moreover, GhIS plans to strengthen partnerships with key government agencies, including the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to complement each other's efforts in achieving desired results. The Institution is also advocating for the passage of the Surveying Council Bill, a regulatory framework essential for maintaining professional standards in the industry.
The Surveyors' Week began with a health screening on March 8 and will conclude with the investiture of a newly elected president on March 15, 2025. Other activities include an orientation for newly qualified surveyors on March 11, followed by their induction on March 12. A Presidential Lecture, scheduled for March 14, 2025, will feature a research paper on a topic related to national development.
