Accra, Sept. 4, Mr. John Edward Afful, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, today opened a workshop for 50 participants to assess Ghana's vulnerability to climate change and evaluate adaptation options. The participants will look at how changes in climate may affect sectors of the economy such as agriculture and energy, the environment as well as human health and welfare. It will also find strategies for reducing the vulnerability and strengthening the resilience of elements that will be affected by the change. Scientists have established that human activities have resulted in additional warming of the earth's surface and atmosphere and may adversely affect natural ecosystems and humankind. The possible impact of global climate change on different countries led to the development and ratification of the Framework Convention on Climate to, among others, assist developing countries to achieve sustainable development.

Ghana signed the framework in 1992 which was ratified by parliament in 1995. Mr. Afful noted that any global climate change resulting in the rise of the sea level could adversely affect the tourism industry which is now the nation's third largest foreign exchange earner. It can also destroy coastal infrastructure, agricultural lands and all designated Ramsar sites which are important to the global community because of the bio-diversity they conserve. Mr. Afful said many coastal areas have been heavily modified and intensively developed that their natural resilience and resistance to further changes have been significantly reduced. ''Ghana's 550-kilometre shore line which is best described as low-lying has most areas hardly over 20 metres above sea level. Some areas are currently lying below sea level. ''The picture we have today of the coastal zone is one with increasing hazard potential for the populations and resources of the area''. Mr. Afful underscored the importance of the natural coastal systems, saying they support a variety of socio-economic activities, including tourism, fisheries, agriculture, extraction of salt, oil, gas, infrastructure development and nature conservation. He hoped the workshop will lead to the development and implementation of a national policy on climate change for sustainable development and assist in the preparation of data on climate change. The three-day workshop is organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with funds from the government which has provided two resource persons to assist the participants. The participants are drawn from research institutions, universities, the ministries and other organisations. Dr. Peter C. Acquah, Executive Director of EPA, said signs of climate changes are already in the country, adding that appropriate measures must be introduced to avert disasters. ''The signs include floods, coastal erosion and loss of farm lands. Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems which provide food, transportation, timber, flood control, water supplies... are all sensitive to climate change and showing visible stresses. ''We are all aware that when it comes to disaster management, developing countries like Ghana are the least equipped, hence the need for effective planning in respect of mitigation and adaptation measures''. Dr. Acquah said the recent torrential rains and their devastation along the coast and upland farm lands and human settlements are clear warnings of climate change.

POPULATION COMMUNICATION COURSE OPENS IN ACCRA Accra

A six -week International course in Population Communication has opened in Accra. It aims at providing an insight into the variety of Communication skills and research techniques required for the effective implementation and appraisal of population communication projects. The Minister of Communications, Mr.. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, who opened the workshop said Africa's search for economic recovery is being threatened by uncontrolled population growth. He said, unless policy makers, educators and the media join forces and embark on a sustained campaign to confront the issue, the future of the continent will remain bleak. He said the new wind of change in the area of women's involvement in population and other development programmes is meant to uplift the status of women and children. "These new developments" he said, "must be encouraged and sustained to bring about positive results in Africa." The Assistant UNFPA Representative, Mr.. Duah Owusu-Sarfo, said inspite of efforts to reduce population growth, there continues to be a sizeable gap between aspirations and accomplishment.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES PROVIDE DRIVERS WITH LITTER BINS Accra

The Greater Accra branch of the Public Health Nurses has presented a quantity of litter bins to the Adabraka Co-operative Transport Drivers Society in Accra. The presentation is to supplement efforts by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to keep the city clean. Addressing the drivers, the Co-ordinator of the project on Sanitation, Mrs.. Irene Awadzi Acquah, asked Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the belief that it is the government's responsibility to ensure good environmental sanitation. She noted that 80 percent of Out-Patient attendance at health institutions in the metropolis is made up of communicable diseases. Mrs.. Acquah disclosed that Public Health Nurses have adopted a project site at Adabraka-Sahara where they have been educating residents on the harmful effect of improper sanitation. She added that they have contacted some NGOs to help put up public places of convenience and bath houses in these areas. The Chairman of the Adabraka Cooperative Transport Society, Mr.. Sasu Dappah, thanked the nurses for their gesture. He stressed that in as far as they will heed the call to provide litter bins in their vehicles, it will be ideal for all passengers to eat before boarding vehicles. He appealed to the government to enforce the legislation on littering. The bins were presented to the drivers by the Chairman of the Osu Klottey Sub-District of the AMA, Mr.. Eben Mash Tekson. He urged the drivers to use the items for their intended purposes.

POLICE URGES PUBLIC TO MAKE USE OF PEDESTRIAN PRECINTS Accra

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Greater Accra, Mr.. Cephas Kwashivie Agbelie, has warned the public against walking on the roads within the Accra Metropolis, especially areas that have been decongested. He explained that hitherto, traders displayed their wares on pavements which compelled pedestrians to use the streets, resulting in accidents. In a further effort to ensure sanity on the roads, the Regional Commander has empowered the Police Task Force to arrest those who flout the order. He urged pedestrians to co-operate with the police and contribute towards the on-going efforts to rid the city of acts that impede the smooth flow of vehicular and human traffic.

VETERAN BROADCASTER DIES Accra

The death is announced of Mr.. Francis Baafour-Ansah of the Garden City Radio, Kumasi, at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. The late Baafour-Ansah, a veteran broadcaster of the G.B.C., died last Sunday after a short illness. He was 64.

GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION UNHAPPY WITH GUIDELINES FOR NEWS COVERAGE AT ECONOMIC FORUM Accra

The Ghana Journalists Association has expressed its dissatisfaction about some sections of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Communications for journalists covering the two-day economic forum which opened in Accra on 2nd September. A statement in Accra, signed by the President of the Association, Mrs.. Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, said it is unfair that media representatives were only allowed to cover opening and closing plenary sessions. According to the G.J.A., it is inappropriate to bar the media from covering syndicate group sessions. The statement said the two guidelines announced by the Minister of Communications, Mr.. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, negate President Rawlings' assertion at the opening that the forum is designed to be a consultative problem-solving exercise whose principal aim is to try and build a national consensus on how the country can move forward economically.

SYMPOSIUM ON HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS TO BE ORGANISE ON 11TH Accra

The Ministry of Health will organise a two-day symposium on reforms in the sector. According to a Deputy Minister of Health. Nana Paddy Acheampong, the symposium, scheduled for next Thursday and Friday will address issues under the Ghana Health Service Institutional Reform Programme of work and management arrangements. The aim is to solicit opinion to strengthen collaboration and offer a broader understanding among experts and interest groups.

EMPLOYERS TO CHECK CERTIFICATES OF EMPLOYEES WITH EXAMS COUNCIL Accra

The West African Examinations Council has advised employers to confirm the results of their employees with the Council. This is because of the spate of false results being tendered by prospective employees and other applicants. According to the Head of the National Office, Mrs.. Lydia Kpodo, the certificates issued by the Council have security marks which cannot be duplicated, and are not easily visible to the ordinary eye. She said the Council is also doing everything possible to issue certificates to candidates within one year after the release of their results.