Call To Implement Conventions On Marine Pollution

ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) - African governments have been urged to urgently implement conventions on marine pollution which they have ratified to ensure sustainable marine development.

They should also promote private investment in research to make data available for pollution management.

This is contained in a communique issued in Accra Wednesday, by the International Centre for Environmental Development (ICED) after a one-week seminar on Key Economic and Legal Instruments for Environmental Management for West Africa held in Ghana.

The communique called on governments in the sub-region to encourage privatisation in marine waste management since the designated agencies do not seem to be coping with the problem.

It mentioned The Law of the Sea Convention and the Protocol on the Abidjan Convention on Marine Pollution as important conventions which need to be implemented for the benefit of marine life along the West African coast line.

Some of the conventions require ports to provide oil reception facilities, but these are absent thus causing serious oil spillage at the ports.

The communique noted that Environmental Protection Agencies were asked to remind potential polluters and polluters to submit Environmental Management Programmes (EMP) on their activities and, if possible, make such a programme a requirement for loan approval.

It said networking must be pursued in the sub-region to identify a common front in ratifying the conventions.

It called on non-governmental agencies to work together and lobby to get into international forums to put their views across.

The communique said the formation of green parties, whose existence is not to fight for political power but to be represented in parliament must be encouraged. This will make them influence decisions at the highest level.

On sustainable waste management, the document called for the employment of enough staff and professionals by metropolitan and urban councils to oversee their effective operation.

Constant review of fines by the metropolitan and urban councils should be incorporated into the parent legislation, it added.