Obuasi (Ash), June 06, GNA – AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to embark on a massive clean-up exercise in Obuasi to mark the 2022 World Environment Day.
Instituted in 1973, the day is celebrated on June 5 every year to create awareness on environmental issues, and this year’s edition was marked on the theme, “Only One Earth.”
Since its inception, it has been a platform for highlighting environmental issues such as marine pollution, overpopulation, global warming, sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.
The clean-up exercise was preceded by a float through the principal streets of Obuasi with placards bearing inscriptions such as, “Let’s fight plastic pollution together”, “reduce plastic use”, “we have only one earth”, “plastic kills ask the fishes”, among others.
Mr David Adade-Boateng, an Environmental Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti in an interaction with the media on the sidelines of the clean-up exercise, said the company was committed to conducting its operations in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.
He said to demonstrate their commitment to a clean and healthy environment, AngloGold Ashanti in partnership with the Malaria Control Programme (AGAMAL) introduced the Keeping Obuasi Clean Campaign (K.O.C.C) in 2019.
The campaign hinges on a monthly clean-up exercise, provision of waste bins at vantage places, sanitation education in schools and formation of sanitation clubs, he explained.
He admonished Ghanaians to be accountable and responsible for their immediate environment to help address the perennial environmental pollution bedeviling the country.
He appealed to the Municipal Assembly to ensure strict enforcement of bye-laws on sanitation and the environment to ensure that offenders were severely dealt with.
“We need to enhance the enforcement of environmental bye-laws to protect ourselves from environmental pollution, which is costing the nation a fortune and reducing the quality of our environment and impacting life expectancy of Ghanaians,” he emphasised.
Mr Prempeh Adarkwah Yiadom, the Obuasi Area Head of EPA bemoaned the negative impact of human activities such as noise making, illegal or irresponsible mining, and plastic waste pollution on the environment.
“Together with the good people of Ghana, we are advocating for drastic measures that can be implemented to minimise the impact of some of these activities in the environment,” he added.
Touching on the devastating effects of plastic pollution on the environment, Mr Adarkwa Yiadom said to mitigate the effects of plastic pollution, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, was chosen as the national slogan for the celebrations.
He further recommended consumer- based actions to reduce plastic pollution and encouraged the public to refuse non-necessary plastic items, reduce single use plastics, and replace plastic items with reusable or alternative products with lower environmental impact.
Ms Fuseina Imoro, the Obuasi Municipal Environmental Health officer encouraged Ghanaians to turn out in their numbers during clean up exercises.
She said the Municipal Assembly had increased its public awareness drive to ensure a clean environment, and would strictly enforce its bye-laws to deal with those who pollute the environment.
GNA