Gov’t urged to prioritize environmental issues to curb unwanted diseases.
The chief of Denanse a town along the Kumasi Offinso road in the Afigya Kwabre North District in the Ashanti region, Nana Atonsa Yiadom II has stressed the need for the government to take environmental issues seriously so as to help curb the necessary diseases that confront the citizens in the society.
Speaking to the Correspondent King Amoah in Kumasi in an interview the chief who also doubles as the Atenehene of Asantenhene observed that some of the major health challenges that confront Ghanaians are caused through environmental negligence by the citizens themselves.
The chief mentioned among others the deliberate public littering, lack of observing environmental rules and regulations, house pollution and more seriously the practice of illegal mining across the length and breadth of the country.
Nana Atonsa Yiadom noted that many Ghanaians have become so much ignorant to such an extent that they don’t know the dangers that pose to environmental pollution and how it affects government budget on health expenditure.
Citing instance about one major factor which he said is worrying and is steadily affecting the country’s environment, the chief mentioned illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He said this illegal mining has destroyed our water bodies and forest reserves, with the practice continuously poisoning our lands and its fertilities with chemicals.
Today Nana Atonsa Yiadom said Ghanaians are drinking water polluted with chemicals according to the Ghana Water Company’s reports, whilst the same can be said about the foodstuff we consume.
He asked if as a country, allow such a dangerous environmental practice to continue, then what would be the stand of the country’s future.
Nana Atonsa Yiadom also condemned in no uncertain terms the practice of open defecation which has characterized some people and called for a halt.
On this note he commended the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources for tackling the environmental issues in the country.
The chief reiterated that if proper attention is not given to address the country’s environment the country would soon be in danger especially on the areas of health challenges.
Hence his call on the government to prioritize the environmental issues by committing funds to improve it, and also comes out with measures that could give stiffer punishment to offenders who may be caught in the act of violating environmental laws.
Attached picture: Nana Atonsa II.
