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Let us learn from others how to solve
our environment problems - J. H. Mensah
Accra, July 17, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr Joseph Henry Mensah,
Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, on
Tuesday called on African planners to learn from their
developed counterparts on the best ways of solving
environmental problems facing the continent.
According to him, the world had scientific solutions to most
environmental problems and what was facing the continent was
nothing new to other countries.
"It is scientific ideas that enhance quality living for the
people. There is nothing like African standards to solving
environmental problems," he told over 250 participants
attending the first international conference on
Environmental Research, Technology and Policy coded “ERTEP
2007”.
The three-day conference, which is being attended by
researchers, consultants, engineers, scientists and policy
makers, among others, is under the theme; "Building Tools
and Capacity for Sustainable Production".
Participants would discuss global environmental issues
relating to resource exploitation and consumption,
development of environmental policy-making to protect
fragile ecosystems.
Mr Mensah said because of lack of scientific research and
planning “some forceful people have come out with expensive,
ineffective and counterproductive solutions to the
environmental problems.
"We must strive to catch up with our colleagues by learning
from them in whatever way possible and not waste the little
resources we have at our disposal."
Admitting that government was unable to disburse a
substantial percentage of the money needed for research and
planning, Mr Mensah said, "this did not give room for shoddy
work on the part of researchers and planners".
He said he believed that Africa was not made to be the least
in everything among other continents and that what was
needed was knowledge-based policies and planning to move the
individual countries forward.
"In the years to come, let us all act as if all men were
created equal and that Africa is not the last born of mother
earth. Let us focus attention from forest utilisation to
forest regeneration even if there is no immediate profit.
"We have the means to sustain the environment and make the
living conditions and environment of our people more
friendly than they are now."
Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government,
Rural Development and Environment, said environmental issues
were dynamic because of their linkage with demographic and
economic activities and their impact.
Research, technological interventions and policy
formulations were therefore vital to finding solutions to
the associated problems, he said.
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyenhene and Chairman for the
occasion, said environmental problems transcended boundaries
hence the need for collaboration to solve them.
He said protecting the environment should not be quantified
in terms of cost, but should be seen as an investment to
sustaining life on earth.
GNA
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