World Wetlands Day to be celebrated on February 2

Accra, Jan. 29, GNA- The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission has appealed to the public to desist from activities that tended to encroach, degrade or pollute wetlands in the country. It appealed to Ghanaians to use the World Wetlands Day celebration scheduled for Monday, February 2 to focus on the importance of wetlands and collaborate to manage them.

"We need to take into account the uncertainties of our water supply both in quality and quantity in future and desist from all kinds of activities, that tended to encroach, degrade or pollute wetlands", a statement issued by the Division in Accra on Thursday said. The statement signed by Mr C. C. Amankwah, on behalf of the Acting Executive Director of the Division said maintaining healthy freshwater, wetlands means securing water supply for the domestic and industrial growth and general socio-economic development.

The day is observed by member states of the Convention on Wetlands more commonly called Ramsar Convention, with activities to draw attention to one of the most threatened natural properties of the world, the Wetland. The theme for this year's celebrations is " From the Mountains to the Sea, Wetlands at Work for Us".

The statement said in Ghana, there was very little recognition of the important functions and values of wetlands at all levels, as wetlands were drained, polluted, over-exploited and under-valued.