Ghana doomed if fails to curb illegal mining – Environment Minister
Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, on Wednesday warned that Ghana would be doomed if it fails to curb the alarming rate of environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
“By destroying our water bodies through reckless exploitation of the land and forest resources, which support the river catchments, we are indeed destroying the essence of our own lives and this cannot guarantee our future well-being”, he noted.
Mr Oteng-Adjei said these at this year’s International Biodiversity Day celebration at Jukwa in the Central Region.
He regretted that water bodies were being polluted with chemicals and silt as a result of illegal mining.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Water and biodiversity” and attended by Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo, the Deputy sector Minister, traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, heads of department, other government functionaries and students.
Dr. Oteng-Adjei noted that though Ghana could boast of 140,000 square kilometers of ‘closed forest’ at the beginning of the 20th century, it has currently decreased to 15,000 square kilometers due to over-exploitation of forests and illegal mining.
He said the Ministry would formulate a national plan to address challenges of development and utilization of biodiversity in the country.
Dr. Oteng-Adjei said: “It is our expectation that with the cooperation of all citizens, we will be able to use our biological resources for our greatest benefits and manage well the ecosystems that supports these resources”.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Central Regional Minister, expressed concern about activities of illegal miners and chainsaw operators in the area, which had greatly affected lands and water bodies.
He said the recent water shortage in Cape Coast and its environs was due to the indiscriminate felling of trees along the Brimsu River, which is the main source of water supply to Cape Coast.
Mr Sarpong said the Regional Coordinating Council would collaborate with the Regional Security Council to check illegal mining and arrest any person found destroying the environment..
Dr. Oteng-Adjei, together with other dignitaries planted four trees at the Jukwa Methodist Basic School to commemorate the day.
Source: GNA