April 1 2020
Press Release
Eco-conscious Citizens GH commend the Ghanaian President for decisive action regarding Covid-19.
Screening at our main international airport has been compared favourably with Heathrow, where screening is non existent.
As the two main metropolitan areas of Accra and Kumasi undergo lockdown, we are confident that the situation will be reviewed, and measures put in place to mitigate the consequences of the partial lockdown.
The pandemic has exposed serious issues, including water and sanitation challenges, and housing not fit for human habitation.
The need for frequent washing of hands under running water is one of the ways to prevent the virus from spreading. The water situation in the country is challenging. We therefore call on the President to show leadership and protect Atewa Forest Reserve from destruction through bauxite mining, and instead preserve the source of water to over 5 million people.
His wise words, "we know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life", are being shared all over the world. The Global shutdown offers a unique opportunity to rethink everything - let us not squander it.
Forest reserves play a cardinal role in providing a healthy environment, which is crucial for our health. We trust the President will put people before profits, and use this unique opportunity to press the "reset button".
We can and should develop a Green Economy by prioritising people's welfare, education and health.
Eco-Conscious Citizens GH appeal to the President to show leadership in tackling Environmental Vandalism.
Seven areas for action are foremost in our minds:
1. Atewa Forest and protecting water for 5 million people: The corona virus pandemic has brought to the fore the need for Ghana to overhaul its current governance and management of water provisioning services as relevant to SDG 6.
Sustainable water supply and access requires sustainable management of water sources for good water quality and quantity when it is needed. In this regard the urgent need to halt all forms of mining (legal or illegal) in rivers and streams that is polluting our water sources is critical.
It is also imperative to protect forest ecosystems that are hydrological gems against all forms of extractive industries that will destroy these water sources. The government is therefore urged to abandon any attempt to destroy the Atewa Forest, whole or in part from bauxite mining.
2. Parks and Gardens: Stop the appropriation of Parks and Gardens land for multi-storey buildings; and attempts to re-zone the area from green civic to exclusively civic.
Empowering Parks and Gardens Departments in regional capitals to educate on the value of parks and gardens, so that a city like Kumasi becomes a Garden City again.
3. Galamsey: Taking decisive action to stop illegal mining, so that citizens in the area can have clean water and uncontaminated food.
4. Lockdown: Use of the lockdown period to deep clean our cities, and make keeping our environment clean a Civic Duty.
5. Affordable housing: Make it a priority, so that the voiceless have housing fit for human habitation.
6. Laws and bye-laws: These must be enforced. A toilet in every home is essential. Greedy landlords should not be allowed to build dwelling places without toilets, or convert toilets into rooms for rent.
Our land and spatial laws should be enforced, and residential areas protected.
7. Noise levels should be in accordance with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) decibel levels. “We underestimate to our collective peril the harmful effects of noise, toxic noise and maddening noise.”
We write in the hope that immediate action will be taken on the 7 areas of concern. The Covid-19 pandemic offers a unique opportunity for overdue action.
Eco-Conscious Citizens GH say: Stay safe, stay at home.
#Stayathome
#ProtectOurForestsAndWaters
Ends
Awula Serwah, ECC GH Co-ordinator, africansfor@gmail.com