Announcement and First Call for Papers

(GHIGCON–2023) “Harnessing the Hydrocarbon and Mineral Resource Potential of Sedimentary Basins in Ghana” University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana 24–27 October 2023 We are pleased to announce that the Ghana Institution of Geoscientists (GhIG) is organising the 2023 Annual Conference (GHIGCON–2023) of the Institution under the theme “Harnessing the Hydrocarbon and Mineral Resource Potential of Sedimentary Basins in Ghana” at the University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana from 24 to 27 October 2023. This National Conference, which will be which will also be organised virtually, will include Plenary Lectures, Keynote Lectures and Panel Discussions by eminent personalities from Ghana and abroad, contributed papers for oral and poster presentations. Workshops and lectures on specialised topics will also be organised for interested participants and students. The program will be divided broadly into two sessions, namely;
  1. Professional Session
  2. Scientific/Technical Session
  The professional session will target industry practitioners and eminent professionals who would be invited to deliver lectures on specific topics or sub-themes related to advances in sustainable exploration and resources recovery as well as geoscience and the environment. Each presentation would be followed by plenary discussions on each topic presented. The scientific/technical session will also target academic scientists, researchers, and students who will exchange and share their experiences and research results through oral and poster presentations. We, therefore, extend an invitation to you to participate in the GHIGCON–2023 and submit abstracts for the professional and scientific/technical sessions under the following subthemes: Proposed sub-themes for the professional session;
  1. Minerals Resources, Minerals Exploration, Development and Production
  2. Hydrocarbon Resources, Reserves and Economic Evaluation
  3. Geology of Basement Rocks and Sedimentary Basins of Ghana and Africa
  4. Geotechnical Engineering, Geo-environment, Geo-diversity, Climate Change, Geo-hazards and Disasters, Geo-health and Safety
  5. Hydrogeology and Hydrology
  6. Resource Policy, Legislation and Regulatory Considerations, Governance, Social License
  7. Geo-education, Geo-tourism, Geo-heritage, and Geo-conservation
  Proposed sub-themes for the scientific/technical session:
  1. Geology of Basement Rocks and Sedimentary Formations
  2. Minerals Exploration and Exploitation
  3. Hydrocarbon Resources
  4. Geotechnical Engineering
  5. Geo-education, Geo-tourism and Geo-environment
  6. Hydrogeology and Water Resources
  Important Information
First Call for Abstracts/Contributions 24 April 2023
Second Call for Abstracts/Contributions 20 May 2023
Final Call for Abstracts/Contributions 15 July 2023
Abstract Submission Deadline 31 July 2023
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of Abstract 20 August 2023
Full Paper Submission Deadline 31 August 2023
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of Paper 30 September 2023
Deadline for Submission of Corrected Paper 15 October 2023
Conference Dates 24-27 October  2023
Submission of Abstracts should be done via ghigcon.secretariat@ghig.org
 
Presenters have the opportunity to publish their contributions in a selected journal (optional)
Student attendees will have the opportunity to contest for the Best Student Oral Presentation and Best Student Poster Presentation
 
  1. Background
The Annual Conference of the Ghana Institution of Geoscientists (GhIG) has been institutionalized to bring together members of the geoscience fraternity of Ghana every year to exchange and share their experiences and research results on various aspects of Geoscience with emphasis on Ghana.  However, from time to time, the Institution organises national conferences to deliberate on issues or topics of regional, inter-regional or global interest. The GhIG Annual Conference (GHIGCON) provides an excellent platform for experts, professionals, academicians, researchers and students to share knowledge, explore innovative ideas, update their ideas/concepts and improve on their professional skills in the field of geoscience. Additionally, GHIGCON provides networking opportunities, including joint research activities and collaborations between industry and academia.
  1. Conference Objectives and General Description
The theme for the National Conference is “Harnessing the Hydrocarbon and Mineral Resource Potential of Sedimentary Basins in Ghana.” It is well known that natural resources are essential to civilization, and are the basis for economic transformation and survival of most countries. Fossil fuels play a major role in our energy needs and the importance of mineral resources in industrial revolution and development cannot be overemphasized. Natural resources are available in fixed quantities and are non-renewable. Hence, natural resources become scarce with increasing population and demand. For this reason, it is important to conserve them while we explore for new ones in the context of sustainability. Sedimentary basins are regions of Earth of long-term subsidence which have created accommodation space for infilling by sediments. Sedimentary basins occur in diverse geological settings usually associated with plate tectonic activity. The rock sequences that fill sedimentary basins constitute the sedimentary stratigraphic record and contain useful information regarding the history of tectonic, biologic, oceanographic, and climatic events during Earth’s evolution. In addition, the chemical and mechanical transformation of sediments and fluid, mainly water, which take place within the basins lead to generation of various energy resources including petroleum, natural gas, coal, geothermal energy and uranium and as well as important metals such as copper, lead, zinc, iron and mercury. Thus, many economic resources such as petroleum and mineral deposits are products of basin scale fluid flow operating over large periods of time. Indeed, sedimentary basins are the location for almost all of the world’s hydrocarbon reserves and as such are the focus of intense commercial interest. Sedimentary basins can incorporate organic and inorganic, metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits, forming independent mineral resource-hosting and reservoir-forming units. Some well-known basin-hosted mineral systems, include Zn-Pb-Ag and U, Zn-Pb-Ag, phosphate deposits (P2O5-Sr, U, Cd, Mo), U-PGEs-Au and Cu-Co-Ag. Other mineral deposits such as iron ore and graphite are also associated with sedimentary basins. In Africa, basins such as the Iullemmeden, Taoudeni, Niger-Benue delta, Congo, Chad and Transvaal basins are known for their petroleum and mineral resources. Ghana has several sedimentary basins, including Accra-Keta, Saltpond, Tano-Cape Three Points, Voltaian and Kumasi basins. Much of Ghana’s mineral resources are found in its old crustal (Palaeoproterozoic) rocks. No substantial mineral resource discoveries have been made yet in Ghana’s sedimentary basins, even though sedimentary basins are known globally to host mineral resources. Recent discoveries of petroleum resources have been made in the Tano-Cape Three Points basin of Ghana which have re-ignited interest in the petroleum and mineral resource potential of Ghana’s sedimentary basins. The need to understand the processes of basin formation and evolution are not restricted purely to the academic. As we attempt to understand the link between sedimentary basins and natural resources, there is the need to embark on innovative research and technology in order to expand oil, gas, petroleum, geothermal, groundwater and mineral resources to meet societal demands. It appears, however, that no forum has been organised in recent times to extensively discuss the natural resource potential of sedimentary basins within the West African region, particularly Ghana, and how to effectively harness it. GHIGCON-2023, therefore, aims at creating a highly interactive scientific and technical platform for effective deliberation on this important topic, sharing of research experiences and other works among industry players, researchers/scientists and students from the academia and research institutions, workers of government agencies, policy-makers and users of scientific information. It will serve as a unique forum for experts and professionals from all parts of Ghana and abroad, engaged in different fields of Geoscience, to appraise the local/national and global challenges related to the sustainable mining of natural resources, the geothermal, hydrocarbons and mineral resource potential of sedimentary basins. In addition, it will shed light on the status of our present knowledge and understanding of Ghana’s sedimentary basins and others and their resource potentials. It will also be a platform to address challenges associated with oil, gas and petroleum, and mineral resource extraction in relation to the environment, and discuss the important role of geoscience in informing solutions. It is expected that at the end of the conference, geoscience students, educators, researchers and professionals as well as policymakers will have been enlightened on the importance of natural resource sustainability, how to effectively harness the potential of sedimentary basins in this regard (especially in Ghana) and the role of geoscience in achieving this. It is also important for these stakeholders to be motivated to promote and facilitate responsible Earth stewardship for the good of the society and national and/or global development.
  1. Sub-themes and Topics
  The organisers of the forthcoming Annual Conference (GHIGCON–2023) invite the submission of abstracts for oral and poster presentations that address themes and topics of the Conference. Contributed papers will be accepted on the following subthemes: Proposed sub-themes for the professional session;
  1. Minerals Resources, Minerals Exploration, Development and Production
  2. Hydrocarbon Resources, Reserves and Economic Evaluation
  3. Geology of Basement Rocks and Sedimentary Basins of Ghana and Africa
  4. Geotechnical Engineering, Geo-environment, Geo-diversity, Climate Change, Geo-hazards and Disasters, Geo-health and Safety
  5. Hydrogeology and Hydrology
  6. Resource Policy, Legislation and Regulatory Considerations, Governance, Social License
  7. Geo-education, Geo-tourism, Geo-heritage, and Geo-conservation
  Proposed sub-themes for the scientific/technical session:
  1. Geology of Basement Rocks and Sedimentary Formations
  2. Minerals Exploration and Exploitation
  3. Hydrocarbon Resources
  4. Geotechnical Engineering
  5. Geo-education, Geo-tourism and Geo-environment
  6. Hydrogeology and Water Resources
 
  1. Contributed Papers, Participation and Registration
Authors must submit the abstracts of their contributed papers before the abstract deadline of 31 July 2023 in order for their abstracts to be considered. All abstracts are to be submitted under a technical category. There is a limit of I page including key words. The abstract should include the concise definition of the scientific topic, goals of the study, methodology, findings and discussion, implications and significance of the study. With the exception of invited papers or contributions, authors, must present original work. No fee is required for abstract submittals. Please submit all abstracts, whether oral and/or poster electronically via email account ghigcon.secretariat@ghig.org, following the instructions provided (Annexes I and II). Please indicate your presentation preference (oral or poster) at the time of submission. The decision by the Organising Committee in placing your paper in either an oral or a poster session is final. Accepted papers will be published in the Book of Abstracts. Authors will be informed about the acceptance or rejection of their abstract by 20 August 2023. All authors who have been listed on abstracts must consent to being named as part of the abstract at the time of submission, and share responsibility for submitted abstracts. In order to qualify to make either an oral or poster presentation, the presenter must be listed as an author of the abstract at the time of submission or publication. The Conference organisers wish to remind you that at least one author from each submission accepted for the GHIGCON-2023 technical programme is expected to register for and attend the conference at their own expense. Please use the form provided in Annex III to register for the conference.
  1. Conference Participation Fee
The Conference registration fees for categories are as follows:
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES CONFERENCE FEE
Members GHS 250.00
Non-Members (Ghanaians/Nationals) GHS 300.00
Non-Members (ECOWAS Nationals) US$    80.00
Non-Members (Other International Participants) US$ 200.00
Students (Members) GHS 100.00
Students (Non-Members and Nationals) GHS 150.00
Students ( ECOWAS Nationals) US$    30.00
Students (Other International Participants) US$ 100.00
  1. Working Language
  The working language of the Conference will be English. All communications and contributed papers must be sent to the GhIG Conference Secretariat in English.  
  1. Exhibition/Sponsor Presentation
Opportunity will be given to companies/organisations/institutions to exhibit their products or showcase their activities, etc. during the Conference. In addition, our sponsors will benefit from the following:
  • Featuring of company/organisation logo on the conference website, session slides, and in the PDF of the programme book;
  • Recognition of sponsors at the beginning and end of the conference;
  • Social media promotions regarding the sponsorship;
  • Recognition in the conference emails and invitations; and
  • Featuring of logo and link to sponsor’s website on all the GhIG conference promotional or marketing materials
  To serve as a sponsor for the 2023 National Conference, and for any questions on sponsorship or discussion of special sponsorship packages, please contact Anthony Duah (+233205368683), Crisler Akwei Ankrah  (+233244962162), Patrick Asamoah Sakyi (+233241473153), or info@ghig.org / ghigcon.secretariat@ghig.org if you have any questions.
  1. Important Deadlines
First Call for Abstracts/Contributions 24 April 2023
Second Call for Abstracts/Contributions 20 May 2023
Final Call for Abstracts/Contributions 15 July 2023
Abstract Submission Deadline 31 July 2023
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of Abstract 20 August 2023
Full Paper Submission Deadline 31 August 2023
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection of Paper 30 September 2023
Deadline for Submission of Corrected Paper 15 October 2023
Conference Dates 24-27 October  2023
Submission of Abstracts should be done via ghigcon.secretariat@ghig.org
 
  1. Conference Secretariat
General contact details of the Conference Secretariat: Crisler A. Ankrah Ghana Institution of Geoscientists
  1. O. Box CT8108 Cantonments
Accra, Ghana Tel.: +233244962162 Email: info@ghig.org ; crisanks@gmail.com   Scientific Secretaries of the Conference: Patrick A. Sakyi Chairman National Organising Committee/ Committee for Conferences and Seminars (COSEC) Tel.: +233241473153 Email: ghigcon.secretariat@ghig.org, pasakyi@ug.edu.gh   ANNEX I ABSTRACT PREPARATION SPECIFICATIONS   All Abstracts must be in Microsoft Word format and SHOULD NOT EXCEED 1 PAGE IN LENGTH, including keywords, in Times New Roman 11-pt regular, single columns, single-line spacing, fully justified, A4 page. The margins should be 2.5 cm or 1” for all other sides. All abstracts are to be submitted under a technical category. Abstracts should be written in good, concise English (British or American spellings, but not a mixture of both). The abstracts should be informative, clearly stating the scientific scope, major findings and relevant conclusions of the work.  The style conventions of SI units should be used throughout. Please send every abstract, whether oral and/or poster, electronically via e-mail ghigcon.secretariat@ghig.org following the instructions provided.  The files should be named after the presenting Author’s surname; e.g., Geoscientists.doc. Abstracts are accepted for review with the understanding that no substantial portions of the paper have been published or are being consideration for publication elsewhere, and that all of the authors have agreed to their submission for publication in the Book of Abstracts. The scientific committee for this conference is only accepting 8 authors for each abstract submitted. The deadline for abstract submissions is 31 July 2023.   ANNEX II ABSTRACT FORMAT
Book of Abstracts for the Annual Conference of the Ghana Institution of Geoscientists,                                      University of Ghana (UG), Legon-Accra, Ghana Harnessing the Hydrocarbons and Mineral Resource Potential of Sedimentary Basins in Ghana (GHIGCON 2023)   Accra, 21–28 March, 20112, pp. xxx-xxx
CODE ((to be inserted by the Scientific Committee) THE TITLE SHOULD BE HERE, ALL CAPITALS, TIMES NEW ROMAN 12-PT BOLD, 1.5-LINE SPACING, CENTRED, WITHOUT ACRONYMS OR ABBREVIATIONS Names of authors go here separated by commas, full first and last names and initials only for other names; Times New Roman 12-pt regular, single-line spacing, centred; presenter underlined, correspondent asterisked, all identified with superscripts, e.g., Daniel G. Institution1*, Paulina Geoscientists2, Isaac E. Conference3  1Full institutional affiliation; Complete postal address (Times New Roman 11-pt regular) Abstract (Use “Header 1” Style) Keywords: One, two, three, etc. (Use “keywords” style; maximum of 6) *Corresponding author. Tel.: + (please specify); fax: +(please specify). E-mail address: (please specify).