The President of the International Association for Impact Assessment, Ghana (IAIA Ghana-Affiliate), Mr Joseph Yeboah, has advocated the certification and registration of practitioners to restore public confidence in environmental governance.
He said rising environmental challenges, coupled with increasing public scrutiny of development projects, demand higher standards of professionalism, ethics and accountability from practitioners involved in environmental and social impact assessments.
Mr Yeboah was speaking at the IAIA Ghana Conference and Handing-Over Ceremony held in Accra on Friday. The event, themed “Professionalising Environmental Practice in Ghana: The Role of IAIA in Charting the Way Forward on Certification and Registration,” brought together environmental professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to witness the formal transition of leadership.
“Public trust in environmental practice depends on the integrity and competence of professionals. We must elevate impact assessment practice in Ghana to a level where our contribution to national development is unquestionable,” he stated.
Mr Yeboah noted that Ghana had reached a critical juncture where environmental assessment professionals must either assert their relevance in national development or risk being marginalised.
“Our tenure begins at a defining moment. Ghana demands more professionalism from environmental and social practitioners, even as we confront complex challenges in environmental management and governance,” he said.
The new President, who will lead the Association for the next two years, said professional certification would be a cornerstone of his administration. He explained that establishing a clear and credible accreditation framework was essential to ensuring competence, ethical conduct and accountability in environmental decision-making.
He outlined a three-pronged strategy to guide the Association’s work. The first seeks to strengthen IAIA Ghana’s visibility and influence by positioning it as a credible voice in national environmental discourse and a trusted partner in policy formulation.
The second focuses on building professional capacity through continuous professional development, peer learning and adherence to global best practices. The third involves working closely with institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a robust, inclusive and ethical accreditation system without creating unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.
Mr Yeboah was sworn in alongside a four-member Council comprising Mr Kojo A. Amoyaw-Osei as Vice President, Nana Kesewa Akese as Secretary and Mr Kwakye Kwabena Mamphey as Treasurer.
The new leadership is supported by a Board of Directors made up of Mr Ebenezer Appah-Sampong, the Immediate Past President; Dr Edith Essie Clarke; Prof. Francis Nunoo; Dr Frank Anim; Ing. Rita Ohene Sarfoh; and Mr Kwabena Badu Yeboah.
In his remarks, the Immediate Past President, Mr Ebenezer Appah-Sampong, highlighted gains made under the outgoing administration, including increased visibility and deeper engagement with policymakers and professionals.
He noted progress in discussions toward a legal framework to support certification and reported that membership had grown to about 250, despite ongoing challenges.
Mr Appah-Sampong expressed confidence in the new leadership and called for unity and collective responsibility to strengthen IAIA Ghana’s role in promoting sustainable development.
By Cecilia Yada Lagba
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