Impact assessment practitioners advocate governance modernisation for sustainable development

International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), a global network of experts and practitioners, has said the country’s environmental and social impact assessment regime stands at a defining crossroads as practitioners, regulators and policymakers met to reflect on reforms introduced under the new Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) Act and Legislative Instrument (LI) 2544. 

They called for stronger institutions, enhanced professionalism and digital transformation to support sustainable development.

The conference, held on the theme “Professionalising Environmental Practice in Ghana: The Role of IAIA in Charting the Way Forward on Certification and Registration,” was aimed at promoting effective certification and registration systems and aligning impact assessment practice with global standards.

The conference brought together key stakeholders to examine the future of impact assessment practice in the country.

Transition

Speaking at the conference last Thursday ( January 22), the President of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) Ghana, Ebenezer Appah-Sampong, described the moment as historic, saying the country had successfully transitioned from an old regulatory regime to a more dynamic and responsive system.

He said the inability of institutions and citizens to move smoothly from one regulatory framework to another had long been a challenge, making the current transition a major milestone.

He explained that the new EPA Act and LI 2544 introduced first-level requirements that fundamentally changed how environmental and social impact assessments were conducted and regulated in the country.
 

Mr Appah-Sampong said the conference provided stakeholders with an opportunity to reflect on the practical implications of the new legal framework and its impact on regulators and practitioners.

He acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing Executive Committee, noting that their leadership had guided the association to its current stage of development.

He expressed confidence in the incoming Executive Committee and assured them of continued support as they assumed their new responsibilities.

Experience

Delivering the keynote address, the National President of the Association of Environmental and Climate Impact Assessment of Nigeria, Abass Suleman, described the conference as more than a professional gathering and referred to it as a national conversation on environmental governance and sustainable development.

Mr Suleman said Nigeria had made progress in impact assessment practice, including the establishment of stronger regulatory institutions, sectoral environmental regulations and a growing indigenous consulting capacity.

Institutional gaps, weak monitoring

Despite the progress, Mr Suleman said major institutional gaps remained in Nigeria’s impact assessment system.

He pointed to overlapping mandates, multiple agency reviews, bureaucratic delays, weak enforcement and inconsistent technical capacity.

He described post-impact assessment monitoring as the weakest link in the system, attributing it to inadequate equipment, limited data systems and weak technical tools. 

Call for reform and digitisation

Mr Suleman said the challenges identified were opportunities for reform rather than criticism.

He called for harmonised mandates, clear regulatory rules and the digitisation of impact assessment processes across West Africa.

He urged Ghanaian practitioners to embrace digital systems that promoted transparency, public disclosure, decision tracking and effective monitoring in line with global best practices.

New leadership

Speaking on behalf of the newly elected Executive Council, Joseph Yeboah expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him and his team to lead IAIA Ghana for the next three years.

He said the new leadership was assuming office at a critical moment when Ghana demanded higher professionalism and accountability in environmental and social practices. He paid tribute to the outgoing Executive Council and acknowledged Mr Yao Mweabese for his mentorship and contribution to the association.

Mr Yeboah outlined a three-point agenda for his tenure, focusing on enhancing IAIA Ghana’s visibility and influence in national environmental discourse, strengthening professional capacity and standards, and supporting the completion of a new accreditation and registration system for environmental professionals in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.

He appealed to members to honour their obligations and said systems would be developed to recover outstanding dues.