By J. K Nabary, GNA
Winneba (C/R), Nov 06, GNA-The relationship between politics and environment is often underestimated, yet almost every major environmental issue is a political decision, Professor Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has stated.
“How we use our forests, manage our rivers, regulate our mining sector, develop our cities, dispose of our waste, produce and consume energy, and respond to climate changes are all influenced by choices made through political institutions and public policy,” she noted.
Prof Danso-Wiredu was speaking at the 4th Annual Colloquium, organised by UEW Faculty of Social Science Education Department, on the theme: “Politics, The Environment, and Our Common Future: Ghana at a crossroad,” attended by traditional leaders, academia, students and civil society groups among others.
She stated that environment could not be treated as a peripheral issue because it was central to the economy, health, food security, life, peace and ultimately national survival.
According to Prof Danso-Wiredu, who chaired the event on behalf of Prof Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Ghana was at crossroads, because on one side was the legitimate aspiration for economic growth, employment, industrialisaation, infrastructure and improved standard of living, while the other side had environmental pressures that undermined these very aspirations.
“We are a country confronted by degradation of our forests, pollution of our water bodies, poor waste management, and loss of biodiversity, land degradation, urban congestion as well as growing consequences of climate change.”
She stated that, this tension was more visible with the challenge of illegal mining destroying rivers and vast lands which were precious national assets, yet economic desperation, weak enforcement, political interest and competitive livelihoods had made environmental management exceptionally difficult for the country.
She said, in the face of the current economic growth was the destruction of the country’s natural resources and the formulation of policies and passage of legislation should deal with the challenges in enforcement of these policies consistently.
“Our common future requires politics that look beyond the next election cycle, we need political leadership capable of making difficult decisions today, and its benefits become fully visible in the years to come.
“As a country, we must also recognise that, environmental governance is not solely the responsibility of the government, but Parliament, traditionalists, business people, civil society organisations, our communities, our universities, the media and ordinary people like us have unique roles to play at addressing the menace,” she stated.
Prof Danso-Wiredu said the university had an important responsibility, particularly to generate credible evidence, challenge assumptions, evaluate policies and provide innovative solutions.
Students must therefore be equipped not only with professional skills, but with ethical consequences, prepared to become responsible citizens and leaders.
“We must also create spaces where difficult questions can be asked without fear at where political, economic, and environmental perspective meets,” she added.
Mr Gilbert Aidoo, chairman of the planning committee stated that the overarching aim of the colloquium was to catalyse a national conversation on strengthening eco-friendly governance and to develop a concrete set of actionable recommendation for aligning political action with environmental imperative for sustainable common future.
He stated that, Ghana stood at a critical juncture, blessed with abundant natural resources; from the forest, the marine to mineral wealth and arable lands, yet faced awfully precarious environmental challenges that threatened its development and the well-being of all Ghanaians.
“This can be described as a true definition of the “resource curse syndrome.”
According to him, the gap between environmental policies on paper and their actual implementation was a matter of urgent public concern and the gap was driven by a complex mix of factors, including the lack of political will, electoral cycles, economic pressure, governance challenges and powerful vested interests.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey