Experts have renewed calls for stronger environmental protection measures to safeguard Ghana’s soils, warning that continued degradation poses a direct threat to food security, public health and sustainable urban development.

The call was made at the 2025 World Soil Day celebration held at the Soil Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-SRI), against the backdrop of increasing pressure on the country’s lands from illegal mining, pollution and excessive use of chemical fertilisers.

Speaking at the event, a Lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof. Vincent K. Avornyo, stressed that soil should be treated as one of the most critical natural resources after water.

“Soil is the foundation of our existence, and it’s unfortunate that we’ve not given it the attention it deserves,” he said. “When the soil dies, human beings will also die or become sick.”

Prof. Avornyo explained that soil is the medium through which crops grow and a key determinant of the quality of food and water consumed by humans. He warned that polluted or contaminated soils inevitably translate into health risks.

“Everything humans eat comes from the soil. If it is polluted, it affects the food chain and ultimately human health. The soil is a living entity, and it is our responsibility to protect it,” he added.

The 2025 World Soil Day was marked under the theme, “Healthy Soil for Healthy Cities,” highlighting the growing importance of soil conservation in rapidly urbanising environments.

President of the Soil Science Society of Ghana, Dr. Edward Yeboah, reinforced the message by urging policymakers and city planners to look beyond short-term agricultural yields.

“Soil health is about maintaining a balanced community of organisms and good physical and chemical structure to ensure long-term productivity and environmental quality,” he said.

He noted that urban soils provide critical ecosystem services, including food production, water filtration, carbon storage, temperature regulation and biodiversity support. However, activities such as soil sealing, pollution and unplanned urban expansion are steadily eroding these benefits.

Director of the CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Dr. Collins Korbla Tay, also cautioned against the widespread perception of soil as “dead earth” that can be freely abused.

“As long as we keep dumping waste on the soil without managing it properly, the soil will get contaminated. When heavy rains come, flooding becomes inevitable,” he warned.

Dr Tay lamented that many African societies, including Ghana, undervalue soil, leading to practices that degrade its quality, especially in cities dominated by concrete structures and poor waste management.

“In the past, cities had open lands set aside for agriculture and green spaces. Today, everything is concretised, leaving the soil no room to breathe and perform its natural functions,” he observed.

The event brought together researchers, students, local government officials and environmental NGOs, all of whom echoed the need for sustainable agricultural practices, reduced pollution and conscious urban planning.

Participants agreed that protecting soil is not only an environmental concern but a national development priority, essential for building healthy cities, resilient communities and a sustainable future for Ghana.