Okorase (E/R), June 9, GNA – Eastern Regional Minister Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong has joined calls for both state and non-state actors to come up with a roadmap for the restoration of Ghana’s fast depleting ecosystem triggered by illegal activities.
The minister said there was an urgent need to find a lasting solution to the country’s environmental menace, largely stemming from haphazard burning of plastic materials and illegal mining activities which would most likely cause food insecurity and water problems shortly.
He expressed the fear that if the land and water bodies, as well as natural resources, were not amply protected, human existence would be threatened in the few years to come.
Mr Acheampong was speaking alongside other stakeholders during the celebration of this year’s World Environment Day at Okorase in the Akuapem North Municipality of Eastern Region.
The environment day was marked to create global and national awareness about developmental challenges and successes regarding multiple problems facing economies such as climate change, waste management, unsustainable consumption and degradation of natural resources.
The occasion was jointly organised by Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency and Parks and Gardens Department on the theme: “Ecosystem Restoration”.
It was also to remind citizens of the need to preserve the country’s natural environment and to focus on activities or factors geared towards protecting the ecosystem against degradation and harm.
While emphasizing the need to finding permanent solutions to disruptions of Ghana’s ecosystem, Mr Acheampong said, “Illegal mining and its associated activities is creating a lot of havoc, depletion of our forest cover and destroying our water bodies.”
Adding to the call was Eastern Regional Director of EPA Mr Felix Addo-Okyere, who said, “To ensure the greening of our cities” his outfit was collaborating with Parks and Gardens Department to make about 1000 seedlings available for planting in Okorase and its environs.
He said, “It will set a tone to encourage the public to grow trees and also to ensure that already planted trees are well protected to enjoy the numerous benefits of greening.
“Ghanaians are facing serious threats to the environment which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency to avoid ecological problems.
“Also, the rate at which our forests are being depleted by indiscriminate cutting of trees for commercial and domestic violence purposes, destruction of water bodies by illegal miners needs to be regulated.”
The Eastern Regional Director of Parks and Gardens, Mr Julius Asante, stressed that Ghanaians should be conscious of the fact that the earth, environment and life were the same, therefore, “If there is one thing to safeguard, then it should be the environment.”
He urged Ghanaians to note that by destroying water bodies, flora, fauna and the soil, “we are also destroying ourselves.”
The Parks and Gardens Department in collaboration with Eastern Regional EPA are planting 500 species of trees and shrubs in Okorase and another 62,500 within two years across the region.
GNA