Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - This year's Africa Environment Day, would be celebrated on Friday March 3, the Ministry of Environment and Science announced on Monday.

A statement signed by Kweku Sersah-Johnson, Head of Public Affairs at the Ministry, said the celebration would be on the theme: "Zero Littering - The Way to Healthy Living".

It is intended to examine ways to protect the environment and promote the exchange of information on environmental issues between African countries.

"African Environment Day aims to encourage Africans to become active supporters of sustainable and equitable living, to promote awareness that communities play a central role in changing attitudes towards environmental issues, and to develop partnership that will ensure that people enjoy a better quality of life," the statement said.

As part of activities to mark the Day the Ministry would on March 3 tour some environmentally degraded sites such as the Odaw Storm Channel in Accra, which would be followed by the Second Environmental Journalist Award to climax the celebration.

A massive clean-up exercise would take place on Saturday March 4 to round up the celebration.

The statement said the overall objectives of the plan were to complement relevant Africa processes, including the work programme of the revitalized state environmental institutions, with the view to improving environmental conditions in Africa in order to contribute to the achievement of economic growth and poverty eradication. "It would also build Africa's capacity to implement regional and international environmental agreements and to effectively address the African environmental challenges in the overall context of the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals". He said the programme would contribute to the implementation of New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development through the effective implementation of its environment initiatives, promote the sustainable use of Africa's natural resources, strengthen public and political support to sub-regional and regional environmental initiatives. It would also foster regional and sub-regional cooperation for environmental management, mobilize and direct African and international scientific and technical communities to solve Africa's pressing environmental problems.