Land surveyors open 2026 annual conference with sports and wellness activities

The Land Surveying Division (LSD) of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GHIS) has officially opened activities for its 2026 Annual Conference with a colourful Sports and Wellness Day, underscoring the importance of healthy living as an integral part of professional practice.

Held at the Ridge Church School, Accra, the event brought together surveyors, their families, and guests for a morning of football, aerobics, lawn tennis, and indoor games.

The activities created an atmosphere of excitement, fellowship, and healthy competition, while reinforcing the message that land surveyors require not only technical competence but also physical fitness and mental resilience.

The event attracted the President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Surv. Kofi Cobbold, the Senior Vice President, Vice Treasurer, members of the Governing Council, the Executive Committee of the Land Surveying Division, and several senior members of the profession.

Addressing participants, GhIS President Surv. Emmanuel Kofi Cobbold commended the Land Surveying Division for incorporating sports and wellness into the conference programme.

He noted that the initiative reflects a modern and holistic approach to professional development, emphasizing that maintaining good health is essential for professionals whose work often involves demanding field activities.

The Chairperson of the Land Surveying Division, Surv. Dr. Tina Wemegah, described the Sports Day as a unique opportunity to strengthen unity and camaraderie among members while encouraging healthy lifestyles.

She urged members to actively participate in all conference activities, noting that this year's programme has been carefully designed to combine professional learning, networking, wellness, and collaboration.

Officially declaring the conference week open, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Surv. Prof. Prosper B. Laari, stated that beginning the conference with sports was a deliberate decision to emphasize the importance of wellness within the profession.

"Land surveying is not only about surveying parcels of land, producing maps, plans, and contours. It is a profession that demands physical endurance, concentration, and mental fortitude. A healthy surveyor is a productive surveyor, and that is why we must intentionally make exercise and healthy living part of our professional culture," he said.

He further noted that the conference week promises a rich blend of learning, networking, and practical exposure. Activities will continue with an Educational Hydrographic Survey Tour at the Tema Harbour on Tuesday, August,18 offering participants firsthand experience in hydrographic data acquisition, survey equipment, and marine surveying operations.

This will be followed by the Akwaaba Night on Wednesday, 19th August, at the CENCOR Centre, Dzorwulu, before the formal opening of the conference on Thursday, 20th August, at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Madina. Participants will also benefit from a Free Health Screening before the opening ceremony.

The conference, under the theme "Advancing Land Surveying through Innovation, Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement," will feature keynote presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions, paper presentations, exhibitions, and the Division's Annual General Meeting (AGM), concluding with a cocktail and networking session on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The Land Surveying Division expects this year's conference to provide an important platform for advancing professional practice while strengthening collaboration among surveyors and key stakeholders in addressing Ghana's land governance, infrastructure, environmental, and spatial development challenges.