CPP spells out vision on environment, Saturday, October 2, 2010, pg 12

 The CPP Chairman,  Mr Ladi Nylander

The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has called for a balance between the country’s quest for economic growth and national development for the rational exploitation of the country’s natural resources.

“As we continue to exploit our natural resources to meet socio-economic needs, we invariably leave trails of a footprint of destruction. The importance our party attaches to the issues of the environment is underscored by the fact that the country’s ability to develop and reduce poverty is directly linked with the state of health of our environment.”

The CPP Shadow member for the Environment, Science, Technology and Communication, Mr Eric K. Benyako, made the remark at a press conference  to provide highlights of the party’s vision and strategies for managing the environment.

Mr Benyako, flanked by some members of the Shadow cabinet including the party Chairman, Mr Nadi Nylander, Mr Bright Akwetey for Atorney General and Justice, Dr Henry Lartey, Trade and Industry, and the National Women Organiser of the party, Hajia Hamdatu  Haruna, stated that Ghana today smirked of a nation that had done everything possible to show contempt for its surroundings.

The shadow cabinet chaired by the party chairman was to offer policy alternatives and play its watch-dog role as an opposition party.

The shadow cabinet is also mandated to take on other opposition parties and provide alternative government and training ground for ministers.

He stated that out of ignorance or naked indiscipline, “we have succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the environment” adding that the environmental challenge facing the nation was magnified several folds by the insipient indiscipline and impunity which is gradually developing into a sub-culture.

He decried the inability of the law enforcement agencies to deal with noise makers in the cities who subject urban dwellers to all forms of what he described as an “unceasing cacophony of noises from all manner of sources.”

He commended the media for its persistent role in bringing to the nation’s attention environmental hazards that posed threats to the very existence of Ghanaians.

Mr Benyako expressed concern about the level of pollution carried from industries and mines which has caused havoc to mining towns like Prestea, Obuasi, Akwatia, Bogoso and Dunkwa.

He commended the government for its efforts towards amending the existing national environmental policy with the view of making it reflect new developments in the world of the environment.

On the CPP’s strategy towards curbing the various environmental menace facing the country, he observed that no policy or strategy would work unless the society was ready and prepared to implement it.
He said the party was committed to transforming the social behaviour of its citizens, instill discipline and deepen patriotism through the party’s social transformation programme.
“It should therefore, be expected that our actions on the issues of the environment will be community-based and driven by the people’s own willingness to do something good for their neigbourhood, their community, their nation and the environment,” he said.

Mr Benyako said a CPP administration within six-months of coming to power would condense the various policy documents into a single page policy statement.”It will contain all the ingredients of how we want to manage the environment, in a language simple enough to be understood by the average citizen and handy as a teaching tool.

He said a CPP Administration would strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make it more influential in the face of the increasing environmental threats.

He also made mention of a ‘Clean and Green’ Initiative, a CPP flagship programme to perform task including an award scheme for the most beautiful district in the country, the institutionalizing of the last Saturday of every month for clean up exercises, an extensive awareness campaign to educate every Ghanaian on the environment and the formation of non-political voluntary associations with the aim of protecting the environment.

On the international front, he called for a united front for Africa in dealing with the toxic waste from the West dumped on the shores of the African continent, saying “the CPP’s  Pan-African ideology which seeks to unite Africa is a historical ‘hang-over’ or an emotional day trip  but is a pragmatic enterprise that will have far-reaching economic, social and other benefits, including the protection of the environment in all individual African countries.”

The CPP Chairman, Mr Nadi Nylander, told the Daily Graphic that the party was happy about the debate generated by its comments last week on the state of the Ghanaian economy.

“We will continue to raise the issues that affect the lives of our people because whatever we say is not in  vacuum. We will keep the debate going and keep the government on its toes,” he said.