Ghana to ratify Basel Convention on Waste and Toxic Chemicals

Mrs. Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology said on Wednesday that Ghana is in the process of ratifying the Basel Convention on the trans-boundary movement of waste and toxic chemicals and their disposal.

She said government would support science and technology intervention activities aimed at promoting sustainable conservation and management of the environment.

Mrs Nyamekye was speaking at the launch of the Week celebrations of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) branch of the Students' Chemical Society of Ghana at Agogo in Ashanti.

She said government has charged the Ghana Standards Board, the Food and Drugs Board and the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to assist in the checking of chemicals abuse.

The Deputy Minister commended the Chemistry Departments of the country's Universities, especially KNUST, for their contribution towards the building of human capacities required for controlling the usage of chemicals.

Dr. Samuel Osafo-Acquah, Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry at KNUST, commenting on research carried out at Agogo by students of the university, observed that farmers could not do away with agro-chemicals, despite their harmful effects on the environment and human beings.

He, therefore, advised farmers to consult agricultural extension officers before applying chemicals to the soil or crops.

Professor Aboagye Menyah, Dean of the Department of Science called on farmers to share the experience they acquired at the forum with their colleagues who could not attend.

Mr William Kotey, Marketing Manager of Wienco, a Chemical Company, which sponsored the programme, appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology to check the importation of fake chemicals.

Mr Sylvester Bekyieriya, President of the KNUST branch of the society, said other activities planned to mark the week, included seminar for second cycle schools, fun games and visit to needy homes.

He said the Science Department of the University lacks computers, textbooks, laboratory equipment and other learning materials and appealed to non-governmental organisations to assist.