By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, June 18, GNA – Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation has reaffirmed government’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability as part of its development agenda.
He said the government, through initiatives such as the Tree for Life Programme, Blue Water Initiative, and the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project, was actively addressing issues of land degradation and promoting climate resilience.
Dr Muhammed gave the commitment during the commemoration of this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was instituted by the United Nations to raise awareness on the dangers of land degradation and the urgent need to combat desertification globally.
The event, held in Tamale, spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, was held on the global theme: “Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunities”.
It was attended by various stakeholders, including traditional leaders, regional authorities, schoolchildren, and civil society actors.
The local theme for the commemoration was “One Child, One Tree”, which underscored the importance of youth involvement in environmental protection.
As part of the commemoration, schoolchildren planted trees and marched with placards through some principal streets of Tamale to raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.
Dr Muhammed emphasized government’s preparedness to integrate science, innovation, and indigenous knowledge systems to address the pressing environmental challenges the country faced.
He said, “Sustainable solutions must blend modern science with traditional wisdom. We must scale up our efforts to match the urgency of the environmental crisis.”
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, touched on the importance of restoring degraded lands, building resilience against climate change, and safeguarding livelihoods.
He underscored the importance of engaging children in environmental initiatives, hence the theme: “One Child, One Tree”.
He pledged to collaborate with regional stakeholders to tackle desertification and other climate-related threats.
Mr Felix Addo-Okyere, Director and Head of Climate Change and Ozone, at the Environmental Protection Authority raised concerns about growing impact of climate change on the country.
He said, “It is estimated that about 35 per cent of our lands have been affected by desertification. Additionally, unsustainable land use and illegal mining have impacted over 670 square kilometers polluting water bodies and threatening agricultural sustainability, biodiversity, and public health.”
He called for the sustainable management of land and natural resources to protect the environment and secure livelihoods.
Naa Mahama Andani, Chief of Tugu, who chaired the durbar, called on traditional authorities to rally behind environmental conservation efforts and lead by example in protecting land.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Christian Akorlie