Let us support combat of desertification – Asamoah-Boateng

 Bawku(UER),June 19, GNA – Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment has called on Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies and traditional authorities to institute measures to support civil groups, schools and individuals committed to afforestation to combat desertification.
     He said they should in addition, review their bylaws on environmental practices and implement proactive measures to reverse the decline in environmental degradation.
     Mr Asamoah-Boateng, made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Boniface Gambilla, Upper East Regional Minister at this year's national celebration of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought at Bawku in the Upper East Region.
     The theme for the celebration was "Desertification and Climate change: One Global Challenge".
     It was to draw attention on the potential implications of global desertification and climatic change on poverty and sustainable development.
     Mr Asamoah-Boateng said in Africa, desertification and climate change had contributed to increasing poverty and drought was a real threat to human existence.
     He said the day should remind Ghanaians, effects of desertification on food security, conflicts on land use and ownership.
     "The Government realizing the effects of desertification in Northern Ghana passed the Soil Conservation and Land Planning Ordinance of 1953 as an attempt to address issues of deserts and dry lands through innovative environment planning policies, "he added.
     Mr Asamoah-Boateng observed that the various irrigation schemes in the three northern regions were being threatened and if no attention was made to conserve rain water, food security could be compromised.
     He said dry conditions coupled with low rainfall patterns had affected the water level of many water bodies culminating in the energy crisis confronting the country.
     Mr Asamoah-Boateng said Ghana, as a signatory to United Nations Convention to combat desertification, prepared a national action plan to mitigate the effects of drought and was approved in 2003.
     He said objective of the plan was to place emphasis on environmentally sound and sustainable integrated local development programmes for drought – prone semi-arid and arid areas based on participatory mechanism.
     Mr Asamoah-Boateng said Ghana had also ratified the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Charge and had acceded to the Kyoto Protocol to signify to the world her commitment to a clean environment.
     He appealed to Ghanaians to change their attitude towards the environment and support government policies for a safer environment.
     Mr Abdul-Rahman Gumah, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, called for concerted efforts to combat desertification and charged Ghanaians to undertake tree-planting exercises.
    He said the impact of bad environmental practices on the socio-economic development of the country was devastating and needed urged attention to remedy the situation.
     Mr Gumah said as the nation prepared to fight poverty, hunger and disease to obtain a middle income status, there was the need to adopt sound environmental practices to combat drought.
     Mr Jonathan Allotey, Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said management of natural resources was vital to the livelihoods of communities and called on community leaders to incorporate aspects of environmental issues into their development planning agenda.
     He expressed concern about the non-incorporation of dry lands and environmental issues in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and National Development Planning Framework (NDPF).
     Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of Bawku, expressed concern about the decline in forest reserves that was having effects on farming in the area.