Central Region marks World Environment Day

Assin Jakai (C/R), Sept. 10, GNA - The Central Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. Francis Mbawini Zakari on Thursday expressed the need for every Ghanaian to grow and nurture a tree each, to help reverse the effects of climate change. He noted that it would require the intervention of mankind to reverse the devastating effects of climate change since their activities largely contribute to the world's environmental problems. Mr. Zakari made the call at the Region's celebration of this year's World Environment Day, which was on the national theme: "Plant and nurture a tree to green Ghana", at Assin -Jakai in the Assin South District.

The theme for the global celebration is "Your planet needs you- unite to combat climate change". "As Ghanaians, our commitment to afforestation programmes must be total," he stressed.

He noted that negative environmental practices such as indiscriminate tree felling and pollution of water bodies and the emission of dangerous gases from factories and vehicles contribute to climate change, thereby affecting rainfall patterns with resultant effects on agriculture and health implications. In speech read on her behalf, the Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe echoed the call for the citizenry to help preserve water bodies and forest reserves and endeavour to undertake activities that will help sustain the environment.

She observed that posterity would not forgive the present generation if it failed to preserve the environment. The Regional Minister called on stakeholders to lead the crusade against environmental degradation. Mrs Benyiwa-Doe, also urged all district assemblies to enforce their bye- laws on sanitation to help stem the outbreak of communicable diseases.

The acting District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Samuel Yirenkyi Appiah also asked the public to plant trees in their communities. He used the occasion to appeal to Ghanaians to desist from taking the law into their own hands by meting out instant justice to suspected criminals.

The Chief of Assin- Daamang who presided, asked chain saw operators to halt their activities because it was depleting the country's forests.