Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, EPA Executive Director
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday introduced the media to some of the legally binding chemicals and waste related multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs).
The engagement with the media also sought inputs into the 5-year communication strategy for implementing Ghana’s 10-year Strategic Plan on the sound management of chemicals and waste.
Speaking during a workshop for the review and endorsement of the draft communication strategy, the Executive Director of the EPA, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, disclosed that Ghana is undertaking a project titled “Strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their life-cycle and the effective implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata conventions and SAICM in Ghana”.
The project, he noted, is under the auspices on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Social Programme.
Implementation
Mr Kwabena Kokofu said the Project had developed a communication strategy to promote visibility and the effective implementation of a 10-year Strategic Plan (2021 – 2030) for the sound management of chemicals in the country.
He added that the EPA attaches great importance to chemicals and waste management, and continues to play active roles in the implementation of all legally binding chemicals and waste-related multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEA) as well as the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
“For instance, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC CO-15) held from June 6 to 17 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland, adopted landmark amendments to the Convention text, proposed by countries from unwanted imports of e-waste, but also fosters their environmentally sound management and thus contributes to a circular economy,” he recounted.
Development agenda
He said Ghana’s development agenda takes into account strategies to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) by the year 2030. He added that managing chemical and other wastes are an integral part of the SDGs.
Touching on a scientific study titled “Outside the Safe Operating Space of the Planetary Boundary for Novel Entities” published in 2022, he explained that the study provided a first assessment of the planetary boundaries of chemical pollution and concludes that rates of production and release of hazardous chemicals used to make plastic, pesticides and industrial chemicals exceeds these boundaries.
“Our earth is now facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The stability of global ecosystems upon which humanity depends is on course to collapse. It is now imperative for the global community to develop and implement strategies to reverse the triple planetary challenge,” he indicated.
He lamented that Ghana was still confronted with serious and complex environmental challenges, despite the various interventions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the years.
“These challenges include waste management, illegal mining, logging, deforestation, noise, water and air pollution,” he cited.
Appeal
To this end, the EPA has appealed to media managers to support its operations by communicating activities it has undertaken to the populace.
“The agency acknowledges that, without the media, no one will know about its numerous laudable initiatives and programmes. I would like remind ourselves that environmental protection is a shared responsibility, and it is our collective responsibility and opportunity to act now in order to safeguard our planet earth and future generations,” he urged.
He therefore called on the media managers to partner his outfit to educate the public on the harmful effects of chemicals and waste. He also stressed that with the help of modern technology, waste can be turned into something useful and this must be made known to the public.
Aside the media managers present, representatives of the Ghana Journalists Association, Private Newspaper Publishers Association, African University College of Communication, Wisconsin University among others, were in attendance.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Edmund Kofi Yeboah on behalf of the media managers, pledged their commitment to support the EPA. He stressed the need for partnership but added that EPA must in turn help develop the capacity of media personnel to enable them communicate effectively about the agency’s projects.
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