By Rebecca Asheley Amarh, GNA
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA – Young lawyers, environmental advocates and relevant public institutions have been urged to strengthen advocacy and enforcement of environmental laws to address growing threats to Ghana’s ecosystems and public health.Â
Mr Humphrey Omaboe, a lawyer, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) as part of an advocacy campaign on climate change, said the fight for environmental justice required knowledge, effective use of existing laws and coordinated action rather than physical confrontation.
The campaign organised under the theme, “Rising Advocates, Raising Climate Leaders; Justice for the Planet”, seeks to encourage young people to understand environmental challenges and contribute to efforts to address them.
Mr Omaboe said environmental protection required stakeholders to understand both the causes of environmental degradation and the measures available to address them.
He said the campaign was intended to draw attention to existing measures for addressing environmental challenges, refresh the knowledge of those already familiar with them and equip others with the information needed to participate in environmental protection.
According to him, Ghana’s environmental justice challenges included pollution of water bodies and degradation of agricultural land through illegal and irresponsible mining, coastal erosion, deforestation, biodiversity loss, poor waste management, plastic pollution, air pollution and recurrent flooding.
He noted, however, that environmental degradation was not caused solely by illegal activities, saying legitimate economic activities and everyday human actions could also contribute to pressure on the environment.
“This is why seeking justice for the planet is one that ought to be fought from every angle,” he said.
Mr Omaboe said Ghana had environmental laws, policies and regulatory institutions, but challenges remained in their implementation and enforcement.
He, therefore, called on law students, researchers, legal clinics, young lawyers, climate-law competition participants, traditional authorities and environmental regulatory institutions to play active roles in protecting the environment.
He specifically mentioned the Environmental Protection Authority, Minerals Commission, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies as institutions that should strengthen enforcement and coordination.
Mr Omaboe urged the institutions to improve collaboration, provide information and explain decisions relating to environmental management to enhance public understanding and accountability.
The lawyer called for environmental justice not to be considered the sole responsibility of environmental organisations but should involve legal practitioners, public institutions, traditional authorities, communities and citizens.
He noted that building the capacity of young lawyers and advocates would help create a new generation of climate and environmental leaders capable of using legal and institutional mechanisms to protect the planet.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Rebecca Asheley Amarh, GNA