The International Year of Light 2015 local organising committee has met sponsors and exhibitors of the event to discuss progress made with the conference slated for later this month.

The African Regional Conference and Exhibition on Light and Light-Based Technologies is scheduled for September 14 to 16 2015 at the International Conference Centre.

Secretary-General of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Riche-Mike Wellington, said the upcoming event will provide an opportunity for corporate bodies in light-related industries to take the centre stage to explore the central role of light in solving many of the challenges facing the Continent in the field of education, energy, communication, agriculture and health.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion with the sponsors and exhibitors on August 27, Mr. Wellington said all is set for a successful event.

Among the Corporate Bodies who attended the briefing were representatives from UT Bank, Dutch & Co, Stanbic Bank, VRA, Pamasonik Ltd, GN Bank, Teleda ICT, Solar-Light Co, National Communications Authority, Dizengoff, Compudist Ghana, AGSI, LuminAid Ltd., Graphic Communication Group Limited and tertiary institutions in the country.

Chairman of the ceremony, Prof. Alfred A. Oteng-Yeboah explained that the event will reach an audience of millions of scientists, industry leaders and the general public worldwide.

The International Year of Light consortium already consists of over 100 major international learned societies, light-related industry players, volunteer organizations and other international bodies from over 85 countries around the world.

Ghana’s involvement in the International Year of Light celebrations has already found four identified priority areas that are paramount for the sustainable development of the country.

These are:

1.The upgrading of the Laser and Fibre Optics Centre at the University of Cape Coast into a full-fledged Institute for capacity - building in Fibre Optics Technology;

2.The establishment in the country of a sub-regional Laser Medical Application Laboratory (LMAL) to train medical practitioners to make use of the relevant laser technologies in the field of urology, ophthalmology, dentistry and general surgery.

3. The establishment in the country of a Solar Technology Research Centre to enhance the study and promotion of solar science and the use of alternative energy.

4. The establishment of a Museum of Light and Light-based Technologies as part of solutions to the post-2015 United Nations development agenda.