The board is expected to advise the sector minister on policies, planning and operational strategies.

The board is a creation of the Civil Service Act 1993 (PNDCL 327) for the promotion of regular interaction between the ministry and its clients.

Members 

Chaired by the minister, the board also includes the Deputy Minister of MESTI, Ms Patricia Appiagyei; the Chief Director of MESTI, Madam Salimata Abdul-Salam; the Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr Victor Agyeman; and the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr John Pwamang.

Others are the Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Benjamin Jabez Nyarko; the Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, Prof. Samuel Kwame Offei; the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, Mr Lawrence Zineh Dakurah; and Dr Lena Dzifa Mensah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The rest are Mr Matthew A. Adambire of the Ghana Institution of Engineers; the President of the Institute of Planners, Mr Alfred Kwesi Opoku; and a representative of the Private Enterprises Foundation.

Inauguration 

Inaugurating the board in Accra last Thursday, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng urged the members of the board to help the ministry to succeed in preserving the environment.

He charged them to be proactive at all times to support the ministry to deliver a safe environment and deal with the environmental challenges the country was faced with, particularly the destruction caused by illegal mining (galamsey). 

“Our doors will always be open to you. Call on us at any time any day and we will respond. You don’t have to wait till our scheduled meetings before we make contributions,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Prof. Offei expressed gratitude to the minister for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their commitment to help the ministry succeed in delivering on their mandate.