National youth forum on environment held

A National Youth Forum on Environment was held in Accra on Friday with a call on the public to promote good environmental practices through the integration of the principles of sustainable development into the country's policies and programmes.

The public should also help reverse the loss of environmental resources, Mr G.K. Scott, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, science and Technology said.

“It has become imperative that, as a nation we should heighten awareness creation on the hazards associated with undue environmental degradation and unsustainable patterns of life and their far-reaching consequences,” he said.

He said in the wake of the degradation, the youth and other vulnerable constituents in society suffer the adverse impacts of unsustainable environmental practices such as limited access to fresh water, polluted air, infertile land, food shortages and the denial of some of the essential things of life.

The national youth forum on environment – Ghana is an annual programme organised by the Ghana Wildlife Society the Wild life clubs of Ghana.

The 2009 forum, on the theme, “The Role of the Ghanaian Youth in Environmental Management,” was to sensitise the youth on environmental issues, develop their leadership skills and encourage them to participate in dialogue, decision making and projects which would have positive impact on their environment.

Mr Scott said the theme enjoins the youth to contribute their quota to raising public awareness in all aspects of environment and also engage in environmental problem-solving initiatives.

He therefore urged the youth to pay attention to the pertinent issues that would be raised at the forum to make them applicable to their circumstance and to help fashion out how best they could contribute in reversing the adverse environmental practices.

Professor Yaa Ntiamoa- Baidu, founder of the Ghanaian Wildlife Society, said Wildlife Clubs had achieved a lot since 1987 and notably among them was the petition to government and demonstration against the further development of the Densu Delta Ramsar Site and its flood plains in Ghana.

She thanked the members of the society for their infringing support over the past 21 years.

Ms Joyce Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Mines, reminded the public of the possibilities of rivers dying when the micro –organisms were choked with filth and urged the youth to be ambassadors of environmental issues.

Earlier, OLA Girls Senior High School came first in a quiz competition organised for five Senior High Schools including Accra Academy, Akosombo International School, St. Thomas Aquinas, St Johns and Mfanteman Girls Senior High Schools.