Fumesua:A total of 36 Ghanaians are set to benefit from master's degree programs in wood science and technology, remote sensing/geomatics, or ecological studies in Canada. This opportunity is part of the Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 (BCDI 2030), an initiative aimed at enhancing education to support social and economic development across 26 developing countries.
According to Ghana News Agency, the BCDI 2030 initiative is funded by a grant from Global Affairs Canada to Professor Mathew Leitch of Lakehead University. The grant, amounting to GHS 7 million, supports his research in Ghana on sustainable natural resource management. The program, which will run until 2029, aims to build capacities and provide education for Ghanaians from various sectors.
At a briefing held near Kumasi, Prof. Leitch explained that Lakehead University has partnered with ten Ghanaian institutions, including the Forestry Commission and several universities, to advance this initiative. He emphasized the importance of technologies developed for landscape mapping in improving the lives of Ghanaians and protecting the environment.
Prof. Beatrice Darko Obiri of CSIR-FORIG highlighted the role of her institution in enhancing capacity for effective development and application of knowledge in natural resource management. Valerie Fumey Nassah from the Forestry Commission expressed gratitude towards Lakehead University for training one of their foresters in geographic information systems, which is expected to provide real-time data for forest management.