Mining Must Not Degrade Communities

The Assembly Member for the Gubre Electoral Area at Odumase in the Sunyani Municipality, Madam Evelyn Adarkwa Frema, says mining, quarrying and agricultural activities should not be undertaken in a manner that would adversely affect life in communities.

She noted that "inadequate attention paid to environmental problems poses great danger to the health and productivity of the people while aggravating land degradation".

The Assembly Member, who was speaking in an interview with Space FM at Odumase near Sunyani, pointed out that "land degradation leads to loss of productive potential of the rural areas, causing stagnation and declines in yields for the poor".

Madam Frema cited erosion as the most visible symptom of land degradation which destroys social and economic infrastructure like dams, bridges, roads and buildings.

She noted that "in some instances, the indiscriminate exploitation of land resources has also given rise to atmospheric and water pollution as well as water scarcity leading to poor household hygiene".

She therefore called on the Ministry of Environment to ensure discipline in the utilization of land resources and promote growth and reduce poverty in the rural areas.

Madam Frema also called on the district and municipal assemblies to ensure that the utilization of land resources do not aggravate litigations.

That, she said, can be achieved through intensive public education and maintaining closer working relationship with public agencies responsible for the management of land resources and promoting environmental security.

She decried the practice where open spaces in the metropolis, municipalities and districts are being converted into market stores.

She cautioned that "if urgent steps are not taken to reverse the trend, our cities and towns might soon be engulfed in uncontrollable waste".