Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the safe and sustainable management of Ghana’s natural resources, stressing the need to balance industrial development with environmental protection. He made the remarks at the opening of the five-day International Symposium on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM XI) in Accra on Tuesday. The event, held under the theme “Broadening Optimisation in Industrial Processes Involving NORM: A Focus on Sustainability in Extractive Industries,” brings together industry experts, technical professionals, scientists, academia, and regulators to discuss current issues and share knowledge on NORM management.
Alhaji Sulemana said Ghana was honoured to host the prestigious global symposium, becoming the second African country after Morocco to do so, a milestone that reflects the country’s growing reputation as a hub for scientific excellence, environmental stewardship, and radiation safety in Africa. Highlighting the economic and industrial importance of natural resources, he emphasised that their extraction and processing must adhere to strict safety and sustainability standards to prevent overexploitation. “This year’s theme reminds us of the dual nature of our natural resources. While they fuel our economies and drive industrial growth, they also pose environmental and health challenges that require collective vigilance, innovation, and responsibility,” he stated.
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The Deputy Minister noted that NORM is prevalent across several sectors in Ghana, including mining, oil and gas, fertiliser production, cement manufacturing, water treatment, and scrap metal recycling. While these sectors contribute significantly to national development, their by-products may contain radionuclides that pose occupational and environmental risks if not properly managed. He described the symposium as a vital platform for collaboration, encouraging participants to exchange ideas and develop actionable strategies integrating scientific research, policy, and industrial practice to enhance radiation protection and sustainable operations.
Alhaji Sulemana assured continued government collaboration with international partners, particularly the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to strengthen national capacity in radiation safety and environmental management. “As a government, we remain firmly committed to supporting your research, innovation, and regulation in this field. We will continue to build partnerships that ensure the benefits of industrial development are achieved without compromising the health of our people or the integrity of our environment,” he added.
Professor Samuel Dampare, President of NORM XI, noted that the symposia have evolved from initial awareness and data sharing efforts into a globally coordinated framework addressing regulation, safety, sustainability, and innovation. He highlighted the symposium’s focus on experience sharing, regulatory harmonisation, and best practices in occupational protection, environmental monitoring, remediation, and stakeholder engagement. “Today, we gather for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting Ghana’s commitment and leadership in this field,” Prof. Dampare said, stressing that optimised industrial processes must balance efficiency with responsibility, stewardship, and shared progress.
