Speaking at the 2024 World Stan­dards Day (WSD), held in

 Accra yesterday, Prof. Dodoo outlined the need for standards in several critical industries, including electric vehicles, mining, and environmen­tal sustainability.

WSD is celebrated annually in October to honour the joint efforts of numerous experts across the world who voluntarily develop the technical agreements which are issued as international, regional, or national Standards.

It was held on the theme: ‘Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for the Changing Cli­mate.’ It underscored the urgent need for collective action and innovation in the face of climate change.
    

He stressed the global push for electrification, noting that batteries were central to this agenda.

“Ghana, with its rich lithium deposits, risks losing out if we do not act swiftly, if we sit down and wait, they will develop the stan­dards, take our lithium, and sell us the batteries,” he warned.

He urged the youth to wake up and seize opportunities in the battery industry.

He further expressed concerns about the mining sector, partic­ularly illegal mining, locally as galamsey.

Prof. Dodoo stressed the impor­tance of enforcing environmental standards, specifically the Interna­tional Organisation for Standardi­sation (ISO) 14001 series, to ensure companies operate sustainably.

“We are pushing hard to make these standards mandatory, so that all mining companies must have certified management systems to protect the environment,” he stressed.

He emphasised that collabora­tion with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is crucial in making these standards compul­sory.

Prof. Dodoo also touched on health and safety, noting that these aspects should be included in the standards to protect workers and the environment.

The GSA, he said, was already offering international standards like the “Good Delivery Gold” certification to the mining industry, which could help Ghana ensure sustainable practices while improv­ing its global standing in the sector.

In addition to mining, Prof. Dodoo mentioned the need for standards in packaging materials and plastics to tackle environmen­tal challenges.

He reiterated that the GSA is committed to being a “solutions provider” for sustainable devel­opment, offering its expertise and resources to help address the country’s pressing issues.

Moreover, he called all sectors to partner with the GSA, stressing that sustainable development cre­ates opportunities for job creation, especially for the youth. “Without jobs and decent livelihoods, we face greater problems,” he said, urging stakeholders to take action.

The Director of the Standards Directorate, Mrs Regina Vowotor, emphasied the importance of in­ternational standards in making life “safer, easier, and better.”

Mrs Vowotor highlighted the role of standards in building resil­ience and promoting sustainable practices.

She noted that during the pan­demic, the necessity of addressing the SDGs became even more urgent.

“The GSA is committed to raising awareness on how standards can help mitigate climate impacts and guide industries toward cli­mate-conscious practices.”

She underscored the power of collaboration, saying, “The entire standard system is built on cooper­ation. Together, we can accelerate progress toward the 2030 agenda.”