Accra, Feb. 1, GNA - The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission on February 2, this year will celebrate "World Wetland Day" aimed at raising public awareness of values and benefits of wetland for a common survival. The theme for this year's celebration; "Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People" would emphasize the direct positive effects on human health. The programme, which is celebrated every year, brings together countries across the world to the international Treaty on Wetland. A statement issued in Accra and singed by Mrs Vivian Nuhu, Executive Director of the Division said rivers, streams, lakes and coastal lands are distributed over the entire country and provides variety of benefits to people.

It said in most cases, these water bodies were used as places for dumping refuse and other practices which were opposed to the properties that made wetlands function naturally to provide benefits to the society.

"The fact still remains that, well protected and managed wetlands were essential for the supply of clean natural fresh water, fish and crop production, maintenance of biodiversity, mitigation of the effect of climate change, groundwater recharge and flood control in support of human health and well-being" The statement said on the contrary, the cost of poor management of wetlands could be high, and that wetland-related disease, polluted, loss of biodiversity, loss of aesthetic beauty, high incidence of flooding and water scarcity and many more brought suffering to many people every year. It urged all Ghanaians to support the national effort at conserving wetlands to enhance their capacities.