CEHRT calls for enhanced environmental assessment awareness for sustainable growth

By Stanley Senya

Accra, Sept. 9, GNA – Centre for Environmental Health and Research Training (CEHRT) has urged governments to ramp up a high-level sensitization efforts on Environmental Assessments (EA) to prevent the country from losing its momentum toward achieving sustainable economic growth.

Mr Yaw Amoyaw-Osei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CEHRT, emphasized the urgency of the call, citing the escalating environmental challenges facing the globe.

He said the successful EA implementation requires a unified approach involving key stakeholders, including the Legislature and Judiciary.

Speaking during a recent webinar titled “The Uniqueness of Ghana’s EA System And The Lost Opportunities,” Mr. Amoyaw-Osei stressed the need to establish environmental roles that foster joint sector ownership of the EA system by Ministries, Metropolitan, Municipal,District Assemblies and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr. Amoyaw-Osei pointed to disasters such as the Atomic Junction Gas explosion and the Apiate disaster, attributing these tragedies to either inadequate EA consideration or its complete absence.

Mr.Amoyaw-Osei said good practice EA was inherently inclusive, apolitical, objective and could be deployed strategically in the genuine fight against partisan abandonment of public infrastructure projects by succeeding government administration and the menace of judgement debts.

GNA