The Minister for Environment, Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, has disclosed that environmental degradation in Ghana is costing the nation a whopping $11 billion annually.
Theestimated cost, according to him, was made available by Ghana Country Environmental Analysis, which was launched by the World Bank a few months ago.
The analysis, he noted, points to the conclusion that environmental degradation and unsustainable natural resource use pose a significant risk to future economic growth, as well as a threat to the public and ecosystem.
The ecosystem in our part of the world are depleting at alarming rates due to the over exploitation and unsustainable extraction of resources from the natural environment.
“We may have wasted time being selfish to an extent but we can turn things around and strive to achieve a better, greener and healthier environment. It is my humble appeal that we all join hands in a synergistic manner and collectively put efforts to save the environment”, he said.
Marking the World Environmental Day at Asante Juaben over the week-end, under the theme: ‘Let’s Unite to Save the Environment’, Dr Afriyie underscored that the World Environment Day serves as an important platform for promoting the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The event was marked with a nationwide tree planting exercise to restore our lost ecosystem.
The minister directed Planning Authorities in Municipalities and Districts and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to spearhead the fight against environmental degradation by enforcing the requisite laws and regulations.
On June 5, every year, nature empathisers across the globe celebrate World Environment Day to encourage awareness and observe its protection.
Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated engaging governments, businesses and citizens in an effort to address pressing environmental issues with participation from over 143 countries annually.
World Environment Day came into existence in 1972 by the United Nations Assembly on the first day of the Stockholm Conference held on the human environment and later in 1974.The day started to be celebrated with the theme: ‘Only One Earth’. The global celebration took place at the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie called on traditional authorities to promote and uphold cultural values that support the conservation agenda, adding that “when we destroy our environment we threaten our very existence. When we protect it, we protect ourselves and posterity?
He, therefore, charged Ghanaians to endeavor to restore our relationship with nature by taking steps to do the little we can as individuals and collectively as a community.
“We can for instance plant trees in our backyards; strengthen the linkage between nature and our cultures, observe traditional laws and promote traditional approaches to biodiversity conservation and restoration,” he said.
According to him, Ghana’s sustained social development and economic growth is very much dependent on the sustainable management of the environment comprising mainly of renewable and non-renewable resources, adding that in recent years both renewable and non-renewable resources are under serious threat and the country’s environment is currently facing enormous challenges that threatens our sustainable future.
In an event where the parliamentary select committee on environment were acknowledged, Dr Kwaku Afriyie mentioned galamsey as one of major threats to the environment.
He reiterated the commitment of the government under the Leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo to deal resolutely with the galamsey menace, emphasising that they will work with the Ministry of Lands and Natural resources and other stakeholders to restore the quality of our polluted water bodies, degraded forests and lands.
He said: “Please let me remind all that the Minerals and Mining Act of 2016 has been amended and one can serve between 15 and 25years imprisonment if found guilty by the courts for doing galamsey.We must move from a generation of environmental free riders to a generation of ethical utilisation of resources which impact on the environment.
Mr. Charles Abani, the United Nations Resident Co-oordinator in Ghana, who began his address with the statement of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, indicated that the world was rapidly reaching the point of no return on the planet. We face a triple environmental emergency, biodiversity lost, climate disruptions and escalating pollutions.
According to Abani, communities and humanity have cut down the earth’s forest,polluting its rivers and oceans.
“We are ravaging the ecosystem that underpins our society and in doing so we risk depriving ourselves of food,water and the resources we need to survive.”
He noted that degradation of the natural world is already undermining the wellbeing of 3.2 billion people or 40% of humanity.
“Luckily, the earth is resilient and needs our help. We still have time to repair the damage we have caused.”
This, he said, is the reason why UN is still launching the UN day of ecosystem restoration, a global movement, he said,would bring society, government, business and private citizens in an unprecedented effort to heal the earth.
The United Nations Resident Co-oordinator in Ghana lauded the Ghana Green Project and the National Tree Planting slated for next week. It is a good example of how citizens can be charged to do their part and protect the environment.
Nana OtouSiriboe II, the Chairman of the Council of State, who chaired the function, lauded the government for embarking on tree planting exercise in Ghana, especially in Juaben.
According to him, one of the reasons why they invited school children to the event was to let them know the importance of trees.
He urged all and sundry to take delight in the growing Trees and Greening Cities’ Initiative by the state, since it will go a long way in saving the environment.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS