A day’s stakeholders workshop to identify effective ways in incorporating environmental sustainability issues in the nation’s development process has been held in Kumasi.

It also sought to sensitise the participants on their roles and responsibilities in achieving the Millennium Development Goal on the environment.

The Town and Country Planning Development (TCPD) and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), organised the programme.

Mrs Rosamund Edusei, Ashanti Regional Director of TCPD, told the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the workshop, that the rate at which the nation’s environment is being degraded is worrying.

This, she said, is attributable to unsupervised development activities and disregard for environmental laws.

She said encroachment of forest reserves, insufficient sanitation and waste management are some of the challenges confronting the environment.

Mrs Edusei said decisions taken at the workshop would in the long-term be factored into the proposed project on the comprehensive urban development plan for Kumasi.

The plan, being developed by the TCPD and JICA, aimed at promoting efficient and effective development of the Kumasi Metropolis, taking into consideration the population growth, environmental conservation, cultural and socio-economic aspirations of the people, as well as infrastructural development of the area.

The Regional TCPD Director said sector plans and programmes to be formulated under the project would also look at the general state of sanitation, solid and liquid waste management.

Mrs Edusei indicated that as the population of the Metropolis soars it is important for the area to come out with a comprehensive development structure that addresses the needs of the people in all aspects of their endeavours.