Environmental Indiscipline

Ghanaians hardly take matters bordering on the health of the environment seriously. Unfortunately, the corroboration between a well managed environment and global weather pattern is palpable.

One of the stories in this edition is about the threat posed to one of the two wetlands, otherwise known as Ramseyer Sites, in the country.

The one at Sakumono and the other in Keta constitute two important nature spots identified for preservation at the international level.

It is not for nothing that they have been isolated by countries in which they occur upon the direction of international organisations managing the environment and conserving the fauna and flora. We are fortunate to have these locations in our country; others are not that lucky.

We are, however, on the verge of losing the Sakumono Wetland as human activities, with the acquiescence of officialdom, is reclaiming portions of the area.

Our reporter spotted equipment which suggest without any iota of doubt that the location is being sold out to developers. It takes only the brave to take pictures of the place as fiercely-looking security men keep watch over the place so the degradation going on is not noticed. Those who understand the implications of losing such a rare piece of the environment to greedy developers, who would soon descend upon the ocean to reclaim portions of it, would not stop at condemning the greed.

We are alarmed by the secrecy surrounding the transaction which we can bet is being done by powerful persons with links on the corridors of political power.

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Our generation, if not checked, would be discredited by generations unborn for being responsible for the degradation of the environment and loss of such wonderful sites.

The effect of losing this important nature's preserve in the international comity of the civilised can only be imagined. We would definitely be regarded as a people who lack environmental discipline. We are ready to sell off any piece of land, no matter how such transactions impact negatively on the environment and therefore our future.

The long-term fallout of such inappropriate transaction can only be determined by researchers. We sure do know, however, that the turtles which come to these wetlands to lay their eggs would no longer have a place to do so. The environmental imbalance and its accompanying effects are beyond our ken for now.

For any action of man which affects the pattern of life – be it flora or fauna – there are consequences.

We are by this commentary demanding of whichever state agency is responsible for the transaction to stop it forthwith. The equipment which have already been put there to signal commencement of work should be removed immediately and a legal procedure instituted to stop a future attempt at destroying the wetland.