The Nungua Mantse, Professor Oboade Notse King Odaifio Welentsi III, has appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Town and Country Planning to take urgent action to stop activities that cause destruction to water bodies in the Greater Accra Region.
He said that he was concerned at the rate of destruction to the water bodies through illegal activities such as indiscriminate disposal of waste and land reclamation.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Friday, Prof. Welentsi III urged the two institutions to enforce environmental regulations and punish recalcitrant people whose actions destroyed the water bodies.
The Nungua Mantse said water bodies like Obenesu in Osu, Kpeshie in La, Sango in Teshie, Sakumo in Nungua, Tsemu in Tema, Korle in Korle Gonno, and others in the Dangme districts were affected by pollution, inappropriate disposal of agrochemicals and land degradation.
He said many people who depended on the water bodies for food had been deprived of their livelihood while the authorities look on unconcerned
“These are water bodies that thousands of human lives depend on. Many fish from them as a source of employment and food in the city, yet city authorities watch on with no action plan to ensure improvement of water quality,”he said.
Prof. Welentsi III said although past and present administration had made efforts to address the concerns, a lot more needed to be done, and urged Ghanaians to stop polluting the water bodies.
The Nungua Mantse said indiscriminate disposal of waste and dangerous chemicals posed danger to the environment and health of the people.
When asked about the need for sensitisation and education, Prof. Welentsi III said it was a right call and urged the various assemblies to contribute to the fight against pollution of water bodies in the Greater Accra Region.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
