Climate and Environment: CCN, CCSE and Knutsford University engage EPA

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has said her outfit will soon roll out programs to educate Ghanaians on the harmful effects of indiscriminate waste disposal and open waste burning.

As part of this campaign, she emphasized that waste segregation will be prioritized to ensure proper waste management.

She made these remarks when the Climate Communication Network (CCN), the Centre for Climate and Sustainability Empowerment (CCSE), and the management of Knutsford University paid a courtesy call to her office. The engagement aimed to explore collaborative efforts in addressing climate change and environmental challenges in Ghana.

In her address, Prof. Klutse pointed out that many Ghanaians are unaware of the dangers posed by open waste burning, underscoring the need for an intensive public education campaign.

“Hopefully people will be mindful of environmental issues of waste disposal. We met with the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) on our partnership with them to enforce the bylaws on open burning. So that is another area you will help us communicate to Ghanaians,” she stated.

She mentioned that Ghana has several recycling plants capable of processing plastic, glass, bottles, and organic waste into useful materials such as manure and fertilizer. “We have to do waste segregation, separate them to be easy for the companies to recycle them.”

She added that EPA alone cannot undertake the extensive public education needed to drive the change, and that would need the support of the network.

“There is a lot we need to do, but the EPA cannot handle all the education alone. And so we will definitely need your assistance through training, assignments, and other roles,” she said.

She called on the groups to support the EPA’s efforts in communicating environmental education to the Ghanaian public.

The Climate Communication Network (CCN) consists of journalists trained under an initiative by Knutsford University and CCSE.

The initiative aims to equip journalists and civil society organizations (CSOs) with the skills to effectively communicate climate change and environmental issues.

The Registrar of Knutsford University Mr Frank Adjei Ntekor, explained that the decision to train journalists and CSOs in climate communication was driven by the need to improve public awareness of environmental issues.

“If you look at how our water bodies are being polluted with impunity, you realize that the lack of education on environmental issues is a contributing factor. That is why Knutsford University decided to educate journalists and other groups to help inform the public on climate and environmental matters,” he stated.

He added that collaboration with the EPA would further strengthen the university’s initiative and help intensify public awareness campaigns.