В Гане призвали к комплексному подходу к решению проблем воды, экологии и продовольственной безопасности

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has called for an integrated approach to Ghana’s water, environmental, food and health challenges. Dr Kwadwo Ansong Asante, Acting Director of CSIR, said the interconnected nature of the challenges required collaboration among researchers, policymakers, industry, academia and development partners. He made the call on Tuesday when he delivered the welcome address at the CSIR-Water Research Institute’s (WRI) Mid-Year Review 2026 in Accra. The three-day review, from August 11 to 13, is on the theme: “Water-Environment-Food-Health Nexus: Building Resilience for the Future.” The event brings together researchers and other stakeholders to review research outcomes, assess challenges and identify practical solutions to issues affecting water, the environment, food and health. Dr Asante said the quality of water resources directly affected public health, environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity and the resilience of communities. He said the review provided an opportunity to share research findings that could contribute to sustainable water-resource management, climate resilience, environmental protection, public health and food security. The Acting Director said the review would also help identify strategic priorities and emerging research opportunities while strengthening partnerships among researchers, industry, policymakers, development partners and academia. Dr Asante said research outcomes should inform national policies and decision-making beyond academic discussions. He expressed the hope that findings from the Institute’s studies would stimulate discussions at the highest levels of governance and influence policy decisions to ensure public safety, environmental protection and job creation through sustainable water-resource management. Dr Anthony Karikari, Chairman of the review, said water security should be treated as a matter of life and national responsibility rather than an abstract policy issue. He said pollution from illegal mining had placed the country’s rivers under severe pressure, while water-treatment plants were also facing difficulties. “Pollution from illegal mining has placed our rivers under siege,” he said. Dr Karikari also cited increasingly unpredictable climate patterns and rapid urbanisation as additional pressures on the country’s water resources and infrastructure. He called for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, nature-based restoration, smarter technologies and institutions capable of delivering sustainable solutions. The Chairman said the review should result in concrete actions to protect the country’s water resources for future generations. The CSIR-WRI, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, is one of the 13 institutes under the CSIR. Its mandate is to conduct research into all aspects of water resources and provide scientific and technical information, services and strategies for the sustainable development, utilisation and management of water resources for Ghana’s socio-economic advancement. The Institute conducts research through six technical divisions covering surface water and climate change, groundwater and geoscience, environmental chemistry and sanitation engineering, fisheries and aquaculture, environmental biology, biotechnology and health, and biomedical and public health research.