By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Jan. 30, GNA – The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology would collaborate with the Attorney-General’s Office to consider setting up fast-track courts to expeditiously deal with environmental matters.
Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology made this known when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday.
The nominee outlined three top priorities he would champion upon his approval, including making agencies under the Ministry financially independent; build capacities of the agencies and collaborate with other ministries to stem the tide of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) havoc.
The Minister-designate believed that the Environment, Science and Technology should play the lead role in fighting galamsey, and not the Ministry of Lands.
The nominee was of the strong view that it is a moral duty for every citizen to protect the environment and believed that Pastors and Imams must add that in their sermons to promote environmental sustainability nationwide.
Commenting on funding for research work, the nominee stated that the State must take research seriously because it aided in planning, noting that, President John Dramani Mahama had expressed his commitment to providing funding to support research institutions to perform efficiently.
On measures to manage waste properly in the country, Mr Murtala Muhammed stated that waste management must be anchored on value for money, therefore small-and-medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) would be involved at the local level to ensure efficiency.
“Waste disposal is not only the responsibility of the State but the responsibility of the citizenry as well,” the Minister-designate emphasised.
On ways to ensure safe genetically modified foods in Ghana, the nominee was of the conviction that the Biosafety Act and the National Biosafety Authority were cloaked with authority to advice the Government on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to take the right decisions on the matter.
On withdrawal of the USA from Paris Climate Agreement and its funding commitment to the fight against climate change, the nominee stated that there must be an innovative approach in sourcing funding around the globe to combat the menace of climate change, saying, “If you’ve your mouth in another man’s kitchen, you’ll never be satisfied”.
GNA