Human activities threaten survival of plants and animals-MCE

Obuasi, March 14, GNA - Mr Joe Boampong, Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, has cautioned that the survival of over 11,000 species of plants and animals in the country are threatened due to human activities.
     "Today in Ghana, indiscriminate hunting, deforestation, pollution and other environmental abuses all due to human activities have resulted in over 11,046 species of plants and animals facing a high risk of extinction in the near future", he said.
     Mr Boampong said this in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of Wildlife Clubs in schools as well as the litter prevention campaign in the Obuasi municipality at Obuasi.
     The Municipal Chief Executive challenged the youth to accept the responsibility of ensuring that the nation's resources were well protected and managed.
     He declared, "As beneficiaries of whatever resources left for us by the older generation, the youth have a greater responsibility of ensuring that the nation's resources are well protected and managed".
     Mr Boampong urged the Wildlife Clubs to intensify and support environmental education and awareness programmes and also help others to change their attitude towards the environment.
     Mr Joseph K. Onyinah, the Municipal Director of Education, commended the Ghana Wildlife Society for implementing educational programmes in schools for the past 20 years designed to assist the youth to preserve and conserve the environment.
     Mr Gordon Foli, Systems Compliance Superintendent for AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi), said the International Standard Organisation (ISO) required that mining companies managed the environment in line with the best practices.
     He said managing environment was a collaborative effort and called on the youth to appreciate a healthy environment.
     Mr Theodore Kwamlah, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Co-ordinator for Ghana Wildlife Society, said he was happy the youth of today were seriously interested in promoting environmental protection and conservation of the country's wildlife's resources.

14 March 07