Step up food production - World Bank to Ghanaians

Mr. Mats Karlsson, the new World Bank (WB) Resident Director in Ghana, on Wednesday, appealed to Ghanaians to increase food production since that was the easiest way to decrease stress in the nation's domestic economy.

He said the reality of Ghana's economy was that it hinged on rural and agricultural production adding, "this acknowledgement and the will to boost food and agricultural production would make our (Ghana WB) relationship warmer"

Mr Karlsson, who is also the Vice President of the External Affairs of the Multi-national Bank was presenting the World Development Report for 2003.

The 250 - page document has nine chapters that dealt with all aspects of human development.

He said: "We must have better technology, better land tenure system and better storage and distribution system."

Mr Karlsson said poverty, hunger and ignorance were rapidly encouraging insecurity within countries and internationally.

"Eighty percent of global resources are in the hands of twenty percent of the population of the World. The threat of insecurity is now everywhere."

Mr Karlsson said time has come for developing countries to make difficult choices and break once and all, the yoke of poverty and deprivation.

"Although the World Bank remains an advocate for the flow of more resources to poor countries, it would encourage poor countries to make the right decisions while the rich and developed countries deliver on their promises."

Mrs Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Environment and Science, said government would remain committed to all international protocols and agreements that sought to protect and sustain the environment.

She said government has so far through its agencies and help of both foreign and local and non-governmental organisations executed numerous projects and programmes on environmental protection and sustainability.

The Deputy Minister said though government remains the prime mover of environmental protection, individuals and society as a whole should begin to take responsibility for the sustenance of the environment.

She blamed certain cultural practices and irresponsible mining and logging methods and uncontrolled discharge of industrial waste for environmental degradation in the country.

"Shifting cultivation, slash and burn, group hunting aided by burning, illegal mining and illegal felling of timber have not helped the environment."

Mrs Nyamekye said Government would continue to address those problems since such interventions were needed to secure a safer and prosperous future for generations.

She described the on-going World Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg, South Africa, as a "a vivid testimony to our survival and generations that will come after us."

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin,Okyenhene, who presided, said in spite of the achievement chalked by humanity over the years, poverty, disease and other burdens still persist in society.

He said greed and insensitivity have led many people to exploit the environment without attempting to renew it.

According to the Okyenhene, in the past, traditional wisdom and laws were so much in conformity with nature that flora and fauna flourished in the midst of a caring population.

"My grand fathers were aware of the fact that trees and wild animals needed rest to flourish so during certain days in the week they neither farmed nor hunted. They also knew that pollution could destroy rivers so one was allowed to farm 150 feet from any river bank. They did not employ rangers to enforce the laws."

He called for greater participation of traditional authorities in the fight to save the environment and reduction of poverty.