Nurture Nature Foundation (NNF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has stressed the need to protect the country’s water bodies against destruction and pollution.
The Director of Operations of NNF, Peter Asiedu, made the call recently when the United Nations (UN) celebrated the ‘Oceans Day’ in Accra. Nurture Nature Foundation sanitation volunteers’ corps worked together with about 200 people in a cleaning exercise to mark the occasion.
It was part of activities for the United Nations Oceans Conference aimed at undertaking cleanup exercise at Usher fort, popularly called ‘Shata Beach’ in collaboration with Zoomlion and other stakeholders.
Mr Asiedu reiterated the passion of NNF towards ensuring the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 and 14, which are geared towards improving climate change and sustainable life under water.
He appealed to development partners for both local and international collaboration to protect the country’s aquatic lands.
“Help us so that our NNF sanitation volunteers’ corps continue working to ensure cleanliness at Jamestown Beach… Unfortunately, waste is deposited daily at the beach. As a result, it must be cleaned daily to prevent oceans pollution. This will go a long way to promote healthy oceans and eco-friendly coastal environment,” he indicated.
Wellbeing
He also added that it will promote the wellbeing of inhabitants along the coast, improve economic livelihoods of fishermen and improve tourism in coastal communities.
The NNF Director of Operations further advised the community members on some best waste management practices. He touched on waste segregation at source in order to benefit and add value to segregated waste to be commodities for industrial materials.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani, explained the importance of oceans to human beings and the need to maintain good sanitary conditions around them at all times.
“Oceans absorb carbon dioxide and generate oxygen needed for human living. Oceans serve as the habitat for many aquatic creatures, which give us minerals and fish for better health development and economic trading,” he stressed.
Mr Charles Abani suggested the alternative use of paper bags and other biodegradable products as replacement of plastics and rubber. These, he said, are interventions that will help in eliminating the effects of waste plastics on oceans pollution.
Mr Sackey of Museums and Monument Board also touched on the importance of forts and castles as places of historical heritage and landmarks for tourists. He therefore stressed the need for periodic cleaning at beaches for attractiveness and promotion of eco-friendly environment for tourists.
The assembly member of Bokum Kinga, Carlos Mankanta, used the occasion to call for an extension of the “Operations Clean Your Frontage” by the Greater Accra regional minister to coastal communities.
