Release can also be accessed at: http://bit.ly/ECCEW2020
Dealing With Ghanaian Environmental Issues In 2020 And Environmental Weekend In June
Dec. 31 2019
As 2019 draws to an end, we must ask ourselves the kind of environment we want for 2020 and the years to come. There is a climate emergency threatening us with extinction, and this has led to the formation of the Extinction Rebellion movement.
Ghana's environmental vandalism, including the reckless felling of trees and destruction of our forests, is contributing to the climate emergency. It is worrying that in the midst of climate change, we are considering re-zoning a portion of Parks and Gardens land in order to put up a multi-storey office building in Accra and expanding the concrete jungle, and thinking of mining bauxite at Atewa Forest when we know that it will not only destroy the eco-system, but pollute the water source of about 5 million people.
Thankfully, there are simple solutions to the climate emergency. In the words of writer and environmental activist George Monbiot: “There is a magic machine that sucks carbon out of the air, costs very little and builds itself. It is called a tree. A tree is an example of a natural, climate solution. Mangroves, peat bogs, jungles, marshes, seabeds kelp forests, swamps, coral reefs take carbon out of the air and lock it away. Nature is a tool we can use to repair our broken climate.”
As we welcome 2020, Kofi Mawuli Klu, Joint Coordinator of the Extinction Rebellion Internationalist Solidarity Network in United Kingdom (XRISN-UK) urges the Government to “listen to voices of Eco-Conscious Citizens and our Extinction Rebellion affinity groups and networks in Ghana that are demanding positive action now on the Parks and Gardens land issue. Pollution of our land, water bodies and air, destruction of Atewa, Kloyo, Wetogbika and other vitally necessary forests, mountains, mangroves, grasslands and wildlife threaten species, habitats, eco-systems and communities like Kewuno with extinction, and pose local and global environmental problems.”
The green economy and sustainable tourism are alternatives to environmental vandalism at Parks and Gardens Accra, Atewa Forest and others parts of Ghana.
If the Year Of Return has generated $1.9billion, is it wise to destroy an environmental asset like Atewa for $2billion? What kind of environment will the Africans in the diaspora be returning to if we continue with destructive activities?
According to Ghana news media, the Minister of Aviation Hon. Mr Joseph Kofi Adda stopped the sale of Kotoka Airport lands earmarked as a green space, and tasked the Ghana Airports Company Limited management to find innovative, eco-friendly ways of generating revenue. Eco-Conscious Citizens are pleased that the Minister stood up for the importance of green spaces.
Eco-Conscious Citizens also commend Hon. Kwesi Amoako Atta, Minister of Roads and Highways for intervening to restore some sanity regarding the ongoing lawlessness by some property developers, and call on the Ayawaso Assembly to confirm whether or not it issued a building permit to developers, and if not what steps it took when it found out that construction work had started.
In order to imbed the protection and restoration of the environment into the national consciousness, Eco-Conscious Citizens and like-minded stakeholders are planning an Environmental Weekend, which starts on World Environmental Day, Friday June 5. We are inviting Ghanaians to engage with green issues at work, schools, and homes. Besides the planting of trees, we hope participants will come up with innovative activities over the three days. Details will be released closer to the time, but further information can be obtained by emailing africansfor@gmail.com.
Let's say no to environmental vandalism and protect and restore our green spaces by planting trees, not unnecessarily felling them. Starting from 2020, let us look seriously at building a thriving sustainable green environment and exploring eco-tourism. Let's not give away our birthright to a healthy environment for a mess of porridge or mining that will destroy us.
Finally, it is disappointing that we have not yet received a reply to the Parks and Gardens petition, which had over 3,500 signatures from Ghana and beyond. We asked the President:
1. for assurances that Parks and Gardens Department land will be used for horticultural, botanical and/or environmental purposes only, that no part of the land will be appropriated for concrete buildings, and that the Department will be supported to fulfil the role for which it was set up.
2. to direct the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Lands Commission to publish a list of areas designated as public parks and open spaces in Accra, so that the citizenry is aware of the landscape of the commons, and open spaces are not appropriated to expand the growing concrete jungle.
Awula Serwah,
Eco-Conscious Citizens, Co-ordinator
africansfor@gmail.com
Eco-Conscious Citizen Petition meeting group photo at Ghana High Commission London (GHCL): L-R Kwaku (ECC), HE Rita Tani Iddi (HHCL), Awula Serwah (ECC), Joyce Asamoah-Koranteng (GHCL), Nana Asante (ECC), Kofi Klu (ECC), Yetunde Zwnennes-Kwabwe (ECC) and Freda Bediako-Puni (HHCL) courtesy of GHCL/ECC