Accra (Greater Accra), 24th June 99 ?

Mr Freddie Blay, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, on Wednesday opened the first National Youth Parliament on Environment and called on the youth to sensitise the public to adopt positive life-styles, which would sustain and protect the environment.

He noted that at a time when Ghanaians are witnessing an alarming trend among the youth ranging from armed robbery, gun toting and other social vices, there is a need for more challenging activities to occupy them so that they do not fall into self-destructive anti-social practices.

The National Youth Parliament, organised by the Ghana Wildlife Society, was held to debate on the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental issues among other things.

It was attended by students and pupils from first and second cycle schools, Wildlife Clubs and other youth groups.

Mr Blay said programmes such as the youth parliament is one such means of engaging the attention of the youth to deliberate on important issues facing the country in order to take the attention of the youth from anti-social activities.

"A school of thought is convinced that there is not enough challenging, exciting, socially and intellectually fulfilling activities to sufficiently engage the youth these days.

"Consequently several of them have fallen prey to some of these self-destructive anti-social vices".

Mr Blay charged the youth to vigorously task the older generation by making them more aware of the degrading environment.

"Each of you should begin by being more sensitive to your environmental problems, take part in advocating, debating and lobbying for positive environmental friendly issues."

Mr Sylvester Azantilow, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, said the National Youth Policy would be launched this year and that environmental issues would feature in it.

He noted that cattle rearing is no longer lucrative in the north because of the degradation of the savannah, adding that Burkina Faso is doing more to preserve their own environment as compared to Ghana.

Mr C.K. Asante, member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, said the problem of environmental degradation is one of indifference by a large section of the society and urged all Ghanaians to help preserve the nation's natural resources.

The students and pupils who featured as members of parliament touched on the degrading mining activities of companies, defecating in polythene bags, bushfires and a host of other activities which contribute to a poor environment.

They called for the involvement of the youth in government programmes and other civic education campaigns.