News in 2023

Exciting progress of preparations for FIG Working Week 2024

October 2023, Accra, Ghana

The opportunity to promote the surveyor profession and engage across the generations was taken by FIG President Diane Dumashie during a visit to Accra, Ghana at the end of October 2023. This included engaging with Ghanaian member Presidents, encouraging professional activity and enjoying the natural excitement and inquisitive nature of the upcoming generation.  All these opportunities contribute to the organisation, and content of the upcoming working week to be held in Accra 19th May – 24th May 2024.  This comes opportune now that the registration for the FIG Working Week 2024 has just opened.

The local organising committee consists of representatives from the two member associations Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana (LiSAG) and Ghanaian Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) together with strategic local partners, such as the Ghana Cocoa Board. The conference will be held right at the beach side in Accra at the La Palm premises.

La Palm Conference hotel and conference venue, Restaurant and Bedrooms


President Dumashie started by attending the Ghana Working Week Steering Committee meeting chaired by the President of GhIS D. Sulemana Mahama and President LiSAG Samuel Larbi Darko and the three co-conference Directors including Stephen Djaba, and FIG Director Louise Friis-Hansen(online). The meeting was held at La Palm Hotel, which is the FIG WW 2024 conference venue and hotel

Steering committee meeting with chairs of sub committees WW Accra May 2024

Later that week, a further meeting was convened involving the wider local organizing committee (LOC) and the chairs of all sub committees attending in person or online. The result of these deliberations has been the timely opening of the WW 2024 Accra registration (see web site www.fig.net/fig2024)


Former Chair of the FIG Young Surveyors Network Kwabena Asima in attendance at the Young Surveyors meeting at La Palm conference rooms Accra, Ghana


GHIS Young Surveyors Divisional Leads and FIG Commission

 


President Dumashie and Surv Naa Lamikai Adofo

 

Engagement across generations

Taking the opportunity to engage across the generations FIG President Dumashie actively participated at a specially convened meeting with the Young Surveyors in Ghana, organised by Naa Lamikai Adofo.  

Following Adofo opening remarks the three leads from the GHIS divisions of Valuation, Land surveying and Quantity Surveyors delivered enthusiastic and encouraging welcome words. The meeting, attended by young surveyors from across the generations including, undergraduate students from the university, newly graduated surveyors and qualified young surveyors, were encouraged to consider being involved in the upcoming FIG  Accra WW 2024 by volunteering their efforts. President Dumashie presented an overview of FIG and the upcoming conference.


Meeting, presenting and answering questions form the School children at Services Primary and JHS school at Burma camp in Accra, Ghana

Next it is noteworthy that both LiSAG and GhIS are keen to engage with Ghanaian schools. On this occasion, organised by Stephen Djaba, FIG Working Week 2024 Conference Director and FIG Honorary member, a meeting with school children at Services Primary and JHS school at Burma camp in Accra, Ghana. This was a real treat for President Dumashie and President Samuel Larbi Darko who both addressed the school students and answered the m any questions.  Facilitated by Stephen Djaba he and his colleague provided the hands-on experience for the should children to experience the survey equipment.

Stephen Djaba is chair of the current Task Force on on the Surveyor's Profession: Evolutionary Diversity and Inclusion - read more and get inspiration at the task force web site.

Further meetings in Accra

President Dumashie held meetings with Picture left President LISAG Larbi Darko Picture Right: Plenary Key note speakers

President Dumashie held meetings with Picture left President of GHIS Sulemana Mahama together with GHIS senior members at GHIS Accra HQ Picture Right: President Dumashie appreciating the GHIS YS Divisional Leads

Further, invited by the respective presidents of the two FIG Ghanaian Member Associations:   First, LISAG President Samuel Larbi Darko, invited President Dumashie to attend the LISAG 5th Annual Seminar, 18th October 2023 and on day 1 to present on the 2Place of the LISAG community role in FIG” [Presentation below].  The Summit was held in conjunction with LISAG AGM.   The seminar theme ‘Tracing the past and charting a strategic path for a better tomorrow’ was anchored by a key note highlight presented by Professor surv John Nyayer Key [paper to be uploaded] AGM on day 2.  Second a fruitful meeting was held with the President of GhIS, Sulemana Mahama along with members of the senior team drawn from the GHIS divisions of Valuation, Land surveying and Quantity Surveyors where the discussion revolved around the challenges and opportunities of the survey profession in Ghana.


 

 

 

Meeting picture left: CEO J B Aidoo Ghana Cocoa Board, Picture above: I.A Houedji YILLA

Finally external stakeholder meetings were held with CEO J Boahen Aidoo, Ghana Cocoa board, organised by GhIS President Sulemana Mahama. Also attending was LISAG President Larbi Darko, Co- conference Director, Stephen Djaba and Secretariat Yvonne Danquiah.  

To wrap up the meetings across the generations, President Dumashie also met with a long standing contact, Executive Director Innocent A Houedji of Youth Initiative for Land in Africa  (www.yilaa.org)  discussing opportunities for mutual collaboration with FIG could emerge.

In conclusion, it was a real pleasure to see our FIG members who are truly active across the generations.  GhIS and LiSAG, working together are certainly looking forward to hosting our international community of surveyors in May 2024, and continue to prepare for what is set to be a successful working week.

Looking forward to seeing you all in person at the FIG Working Week 2024 in Ghana

LISAG 5th Annual Seminar, Accra Ghana

 

 

Diane A. Dumashie
4 December 2023