MP calls for removal of algae from water bodies

Accra, July 25, GNA - Mr. Lee Ocran, Member of Parliament for Jomoro on Wednesday moved a Private Member's Motion in Parliament requesting the Government to take appropriate measures to remove the algae in the marine waters in the Jomoro District in the Western Region. He said the presence of the algae, which makes fishing almost impossible had greatly affected the livelihood of the people in the area and had increased their poverty level.

Mr. Ocran's motion, which was a second Private Member's Motion within a month after a first one on the energy crisis, was unanimously supported by the House and called for emergency measures to wipe out the algae and prevent its further spread.

He said the algae stretched from the waters of Cote d'Ivoire, making it a trans-border problem.

Contributing to the motion, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, NPP-Amenfi East said the problem had assumed international proportion and called for combined efforts of the Governments of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to solve it.

Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment commended Mr. Ocran who is also a former Deputy Minister of Environment for bringing the matter to public domain. He said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had undertaken research on the problem, which had taken wider proportion and established a desk to monitor and report on it.

The Minister said the issue had become trans-boundary as the algae was moving from Guinea Bissau to Angola and urged the Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs to initiate an international discussion on the phenomenon.

He said the political conflict in Cote d'Ivoire had inhibited discussions on the problem but the resolution of the conflict had now paved way for its resolution.

Mr. Edward Doe-Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader said Government should look at the issue of harmful plants in the nation's waters and coastal areas in a holistic manner.

Finance Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu pointed out that the Jomoro District, which, he said, the Ministry had adopted was of enormous strategic economic importance because of the Jewi Wharf, a commercial district and other economic activities, deserved utmost attention and that it was necessary to know the total cost of weeding out the algae from the marine waters. 25 July 07