Sound and safe environment is a perquisite for sustainable development. This is due to the fact the environment provide a lot services which are vital for the survival of human beings on planet earth. However, uncontrollable utilization and extraction of environmental services by human beings in their quest to enjoy life to its fullest, have created several product such as plastics, etc which have been found to cause numerous problems.

For instance, indiscriminate disposal of plastic products which have choked drains, rivers and resulted in catastrophic effect on mankind. For example, memories of June 3rd 2015 is still fresh in the minds of all Ghanaians.

On the global front, the release of toxic chemicals into the environment from industries, transportation sectors just to mention a few have resulted in the release of greenhouse gases which are responsible for the global climate change.

Improving access to safe environment by every citizen of Ghana is critical not only to reducing poverty but also to achieving the SDGs targets for health, including reducing maternal and child mortality and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases. More than 40% of Ghanaians in rural, urban and per – urban centres, especially children, die each year from environment related diseases.

It is for the above reasons that the global theme for 2020 World Environment Day dubbed ‘“Biodiversity.’ is very important. This year, World Environment Day aims to raise awareness on the importance of taking care of nature and our planet’s biodiversity.

For example, several studies conducted by CEIA and Wacam have revealed that, most of the water bodies in Tarkwa and Obuasi mining areas are polluted with high levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, etc. Another study by CEIA in 2010, found out that the overall mean whole blood concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and mercury of resident adults in Tarkwa are as follows; 55.7µg/L (As), 41.4µg/L (Cd) and 97.1µg/L (Hg) respectively. The World Health Organisation permissible guideline values for As, Cd and Hg in human whole blood are 2.0 µg/L, 0.3 µg/L and 2.0 µg/L respectively for arsenic, cadmium and mercury in whole blood. A comparison of the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and mercury in whole blood of resident adults in Tarkwa with the WHO permissible guideline values revealed that the concentrations of As, Cd and Hg exceeded the permissible guideline values by 770%, 6,700% and 3,600% respectively for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg).

Also, biodiversity survey conducted by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited – Akyem Mine to assess the flora and fauna within the Adjenua Bepo forest reserve an active mine mining site of the company revealed that, there were about 22 flora and 67 fauna species in that forest which were new to science. As we speak today, these rich biodiversity species have been destroyed by the company in their mining operations. At this time whole world is seriously looking up for a cure for the COVID 19, may be possible that, one of these flora species which were destroyed through mining of the Adjeua Bepo forest reserve may be the cure for this pandemic.

CEIA and Wacam wishes to reiterate the need for all stakeholders’ particularly civil society, government and development partners to commit themselves to reduce the plastic menace in Ghana. We further wish to draw the attention of stakeholders such as government, civil society organisations and development partners to plight of residents mining communities such as Dumase, Twiagya, among other communities.

We believe that issues of sustainable management of Ghana’s biodiversity goes a long way to ensure good water quality, clean environment and improved livelihood which are very crucial for sustainable development as well as the nation’s quest of meeting all the Sustainable Development Goals.

We also call on the international communities to expand the mandate of the International Criminal Court to prosecute companies, individuals or governments who pollutes the environment as having committed crimes against humanity.

Finally, we call on all Ghanaians, to respect Article 41 (k) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, which states “It is the duty of every citizen to safeguard and protect the environment”. That is, we should refrain from activities that pollute our water bodies.

Jointly signed by:

Mrs. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng (Associate Executive Director – Wacam)

Ms. Mary Christmas Afful (Press and Communication Officer – CEIA)