Political parties have no policies on environment – GEJA

The Ghana Environmental Journalists Association (GEJA), a group of journalists that advocates for environmental sustainability, on Monday said political parties seemed to have no policies on environmental sustainability.

A statement issued by GEJA, noted that so far no political party seemed to highlight its programmes and plans on the sustainability of the environment.

GEJA expressed concern about illegal mining, pollution of water bodies, plastic waste menace, electronic waste at the Agblogblosie market among other environmental concerns and challenged political parties to come out clearly with policies and programmes towards future environmental sustainability.

The statement cited a recent report by the World Health Organization which stated that more than 6,500 lives are lost annually in Ghana as a result of exposure to air pollution caused by use of inefficient cook-stoves and fuels. “Eighty-seven per cent of the three billion people worldwide who annually rely on such inefficient traditional energy source to cook, are adversely affected by air household pollution,” it added

The Association said it was not against the use of education as a major campaign message but asked “of what use is it to have a free education or a progressively free education when we cannot guarantee our sustainability on this land called Ghana because of the degradation of the environment.”

GEJA therefore called on Ghanaians to pay attention to environmental issues and demand answers from politicians since environmental issues affects our lives in all aspects.

Source: GNA