OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony will provide a spectacular introduction to the FIG Working Week, its theme, and its unique location – a festive start of the week.

Date: Sunday 19 May
Time: 17:00-18:30
Venue: La Palm Beach Hotel

Master of Ceremony: Surv. Stephen Djaba, Co-conference Director

Welcome adresses:
  • Dr. Anthony Arko Adjei, GhIS President
  • Surv. Ing. Samuel Larbi Darko, LiSAG President
  • Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
  • Ms. Nsama Nsemiwe Chikolwa, Africa Union Representative
  • Dr. Diane Dumashie, FIG President
  • President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana is the fifth president of Ghana’s fourth Republic.

Prior to ascending to the prestigious height of presidency, Nana Akufo-Addo served as the Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 in the President Kufuor administration.

His rich and outstanding political includes also serving as the MP of the Abuakwa constituency in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th parliament of the 4th republic.

With a reputation as one of the country’s foremost human right lawyers and activist, Nana Akufo-Addo was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971 and was later called to the Ghanaian bar in July 1975. He is the co-founder of the law-firm firm Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co which was birthed in 1979.

The accomplished politician and lawyer was born in Swalaba, a suburb of Accra, Ghana, on 29 March 1944 to a prominent Ghanaian royal and political family as the son of Adeline and Edward Akufo-Addo. His father Edward Akufo-Addo from Akropong-Akuapem was Ghana's third Chief Justice from 1966 to 1970, chairman of the 1967–68 Constitutional Commission and the non-executive president of Ghana from 1970 till 1972.

He started his primary education at the Government Boys School and Rowe Road School (now Kinbu), both in Accra Central and later went to England and furthered his education at Holmewood House Preparatory School before studying for his O-Level and A-Level examinations at Lancing College, Sussex.

He is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo and blessed with four daughters.


Dr. Anthony Arko Adjei, GhIS President

Surv. Ing. Samuel Larbi Darko, LiSAG President

Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources

Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, is a seasoned Ghanaian Politician and a Barrister at Law. He is Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency in the Savannah Region of Ghana. He co-chairs the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership with Senator John Kerry, Former Secretary of State for the US government. Prior to being appointed Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Jinapor served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, in charge of Operations, at the Office of the President of Ghana. He previously worked at Kulendi @ Law, a commercial and corporate law firm in Ghana, where he rose to the rank of Senior Associate. Hon. Jinapor holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Physics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) Degrees from the University of Ghana. He is largely considered as a rising star in Ghanaian politics for the work he is doing at the government Ministry he is responsible for.

Ms. Nsama Nsemiwe Chikolwa, Africa Union Representative

Nsama is an experienced professional with over 15 years of experience and has a strong understanding of the environment/ natural resources, land governance, gender and agriculture sectors. She has worked as a Land Policy Advisor/ Coordinator for the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, at the African Union Commission (AUC). She is seconded to the AUC by the German Development Cooperation/ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the Strengthening Capacities for Land Governance in Africa Program. Her work focuses on promoting good land governance in Africa. She further supports work focused at integrating gender and social inclusion in the agriculture sector.

Dr. Diane Dumashie, FIG President

Diane, president of the International Federation of Surveyors, emphasizes in the FIG Council Work Plan 2023-2026 the imperative for a sustainable profession that provides services in a sustainable manner and aligns with the global sustainable development agenda. It highlights the urgency to take action now to address the climate agenda.

Diane is widely acknowledged as a creative and strategic business thinker with a proven ability to lead and manage change, to energise and resolve complex issues and deliver successful outcomes for all stakeholders.  This has led her into the field of knowledge transfer including designing and facilitating workshops for National and Local government to adapt to organisational change, helping Professionals and grassroots organisations to accommodate global drivers and leading study visits for Business and Ministry senior teams to assess in country context and strategic next steps.