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04.05.2015 Science

Environmental protection is shared responsibility

By GNA
Environmental protection is shared responsibility
04.05.2015 LISTEN


Klagon (G/A), May 2, GNA - Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio, Chief Executive Officer of Reroy Cables Limited, a subsidiary of Reroy Group, has called on all and sundry to help preserve and protect the environment from destruction.

Mrs Quartey-Papafio noted that the country is gifted with natural resources and as such it behoves all especially the authorities to institute proactive measures on how to make good use of these sites productively.

She was speaking at a tree planting project at Klagon Ramsar site in Tema on Friday to mark the importance of the site and migratory sites.

The event was organised by Friends of Ramsar Sites (FORS), an environmental NGO in collaboration with Reroy Cables on the theme: 'Ecological Enhancement for Sakumo Ramser Sites.'

Mrs Quartety-Papafio said it is high time the country thinks about the prospect of the economy in future so as to put in strategies and workable actions to respond to contemporary trends of development.

She said the country uses lots of energy, which comes from water and found in the environment, hence the need to protect the ecology.

Mrs Quartey-Papafio said ramsar sites across the country should be preserved and grow tropical plants for relaxation and tourism purposes, which would intend create job employment for the youth.

'Reroy cables as part of contributing to the energy sector, we have developed an improved fire resistant cable onto the Ghanaian market with the state-of-the-art machines to fight fire outbreaks in the country,' she added.

Mrs Quartey-Papafio presented wheel barrows, cutlasses, coconut seedlings, agro chemicals and insecticides to FORS for tree planting exercise and help preserve the sites as well.

Mr Richard Agorkpa, Executive Director of FORS said the convention on wetlands was adopted in 1971 and came into force in 1975 due to the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory water birds.

He said the convention came into force in Ghana in 1988 and has designated six areas as a ramsar sites intended as nature conservation sites.

These areas include Keta Lagoon Complex, Songor Site, Densu Delta site, Muni-Pomadze site, Owabi site and Sakumo sites.

He said these sites serve as nature conservation areas, shoreline stabilisation, flood control, fish and wildlife habitat, water purification, tourism sites and contribution to climate adaptation.

Mr Agorkpa said his outfit would continue to supplement government efforts to maintain the integrity of all the sites due to the enormous benefits.

Mrs Esther Mbah, Agriculture Officer, at Tema Metropolitan Assembly said the Assembly has lost most its land for estate developers, adding that the ramsar sites supports about 1500 cattle and 800 sheep.

She said the Assembly is planning to construct fish ponds on the site to create employment to the teeming youth and urged all to help in the preservation and protection of the environment.

GNA

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