Stop paying lip service to environmental issues - Minister tells Assemblies

Accra (Greater Accra), 28th May '99 -

Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Environment Science and Technology, on Thursday asked district assemblies to stop paying lip service to environmental issues and incorporate them in their budgets for implementation.

Speaking to journalists on activities earmarked for the celebration of World Environment Day in Accra, Mr Avoka said district assemblies do not usually include environmental programmes in their projects. ''But such issues should be seen as a shared responsibility with partners who have their respective roles to play''.

The national theme for this year's celebration, which falls on June five, is ''Our Earth, Our Future - Just Save It''.

Mr Avoka noted that neither his ministry nor the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can solve all the environmental issues, and their role should be seen as co-ordinators or facilitators.

''Within the country, this will involve working with the judiciary, parliamentarians, government ministries, district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies, the private sector, media, religious and traditional organisations, women, youth and research institutions''.

He therefore called on journalists to write more features on the environment, not only on negative impact but also on the positive actions that individuals, communities and institutions are doing.

Government on its part has over the years taken steps to ensure that the country develops on a sustainable basis and now need to create awareness through the dissemination of information, education and the use of communication channels to reach all sections of the Ghanaian community.

Answering a question on the disposal of medical waste, Dr Peter Acquah, Executive Director of EPA, said a committee made up of health officials and experts on the subject are working towards finding proper ways of disposing of biomedical waste in the country.

He said deliberations on the disposal of radio active waste, such as x'ray films, are on course, and this would involve the private sector.

Activities lined up for the Day include clean-up exercises by second cycle schools, churches, NGOs and security agencies.

GRi?/