On October 31 2019, the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) student-led Coalition of Students in Urban Advocacy and Research (COSUAR) was launched at the sidelines of the World Cities Day Celebration. The launch was by the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Kwasi Adjei-Boateng and assisted by COSUAR patrons, Dr. Benjamin Ofori and Prof. Chris Gordon of the IESS.

Unveilling of COSUAR by the Hon. Kwasi Adjei-Boateng

Dr. Benjamin Ofori, IESS delivering a speech on behalf of the Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS), University of Ghana

COSUAR is a movement of students with keen interest in sustainable urbanization; it draws its membership from the Universities of Ghana, Cape Coast and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The urban-focused student group aims at promoting advocacy on the challenges and opportunities confronting urbanisation, fostering stronger collaboration between students’ research and practitioners and policymakers, re-focusing students’ research to address data needs and strategically positioning COSUAR members to attract both local and international funding to engage research and to source funding to support student research.

 

The 2019 World Cities Day Celebration was under the theme “Changing the World: Innovation for a better life for future generations”. It was under the auspices of the ministries of Environment Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Transport, Works and Housing and Sanitation and Water Resources.

Dignitaries at the World Cities Day Celebration