Accra, June 5, GNA - Ghana's attempts to own all the five internationally acclaimed wetlands across the country suffered a prolonged setback as the nation could not compensate owners of the land. Ghana is the first country in Africa to develop a National Wetland Strategy since 1988.

Prof Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Chairperson for the Centre for African Wetland disclosed this in Accra on Friday to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

She said apart from Sakumono Ramsar site, Keta, Songor, Densu and Muni Ramsar were out of the reach of government. Asked whether there was Memorandum of Understanding before the lands were released, she answered in the affirmative. She noted that for lack of full ownership of the wetlands it was very difficult to enforce the laws on people who encroach on such lands for settlement and industrial development, citing Densu Delta and Sakumono which were under siege from encroachers.

Wetlands which she said could boost Ghana's tourism in an immense measure were rather used as dumping grounds for domestic and industrial wastes.

Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu said wetlands were critical for flood and storm control, recharging of groundwater and water purification. She said the perennial floods in Accra especially Dansoman was as result of the encroachment on the wetland.

She said wetlands served as natural habitat for lagoon fisheries and fish nurseries for marine fish species Nana Kofi Adu-Nsiah Executive Director of Forestry Commission (Wild Life Division) said inadequate funding for wetland conservation, lack of adequately qualified staff and limited awareness, deficient appreciation of the Ghanaian public for wetland functions and values were some of the challenges facing the division.

He said lack of co-ordination between relevant sector agencies and poverty in the communities living within and around the Ramsar sites was also a problem.

Mr Agyeman-Manu Kwaku, Deputy Chairman of the PAC observed that all the sign posts are showing that wetland locations that were broken could be repaired. He asked the commission to use creative, innovative and pragmatic efforts to conserve and preserve the sites for posterity. 5 June 10