Make stringent bylaws against environmental degradation

The members of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly have been advised to enact appropriate by-laws and effectively enforce them to check environmental degradation in the area.

The Reverend Luke Abugre, the Principal of the Gbewaa Training College, who performed the inauguration of the Assembly on Tuesday, on behalf of the President, said adequate laws existed to deal with issues such as bush burning, illegal felling of timber, mining activities, the environment and sanitation among others.

However, he said, they enact the necessary by-laws, where they were absent, to guard against environmental degradation.

Fifty-three assembly members were sworn-in to the sixth Metropolitan/ Municipal/District Assemblies of the Fourth Republic.

Rev. Abugre said:“If we could apply the same enthusiasm with which the assembly has built schools, clinics, markets and water supplies, electricity projects, feeder roads among others, to check environmental degradation and ensure environmental sanitation, then and only then, can we be assured of our children’s future and the future of Ghana.”

He also urged the assembly to take the National Sanitation Day seriously and stated that the creation of special courts were underway to facilitate prosecution of people who fall foul of sanitation offences.

He, therefore, tasked members to sensitise people in the Municipality to take sanitation issues seriously.

He cautioned the Department of Town and Country Planning, the Survey Department, and the Lands Commission to abide by rules and regulations of their profession regarding allocation of lands.

The development of these, he said, should take cognizance of flood prone areas, as floods normally were accompanied by loss of lives and property.

Mr James Zuugah Tiigah, the Upper East Regional Minister, who doubles as the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the poor roads in the Municipality were due to heavy rains and gave the assurance that the Assembly would soon fix them.

He stated the need for Bolgatanga to take advantage of the influx of long vehicles en-route to neighboring countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and create an inland port as a means of generating revenue for the Assembly, as well as for job creation for the youth.

The Minister urged the Assembly members to work assiduously and strategise for revenue generation to prosper the Municipality.

He said that could be possible if members enforced teamwork, focused on the plans of the Assembly, and worked for the development of the area.