{"id":326375,"date":"2017-06-08T12:30:39","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T12:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=326375"},"modified":"2017-06-08T12:30:39","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T12:30:39","slug":"effective-policy-needed-to-conserve-the-environment-chamber-of-mines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/06\/effective-policy-needed-to-conserve-the-environment-chamber-of-mines\/","title":{"rendered":"Effective policy needed to conserve the environment – Chamber of Mines"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Ghana Chamber of Mines used the commemoration of World Environmental Day to reiterate the need for\u00a0effective policy implementation from\u00a0government to sustain the conservation of Ghana’s natural resources.<\/p>\n
The Chamber noted “weak regulatory oversight and parochial political considerations” as contributors to the proliferation and escalation of illegal mining, which has been acknowledged as one of the major threat to Ghana’s environment.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”AV0SlXBOacL1eKcooF7ZAQrmelWWtH5r”]These points were made in a speech read on behalf of Ahmed D. Nantogmah, the Chamber\u2019s External Relations and Communications Director, at an event organised by the Centre for School and Community Science and Technology Studies of the University of Education, to mark the 2017 World Environment Day.<\/p>\n
The first half of 2017 has seen concerted efforts to end the environment-ravaging menace of illegal mining which has left most Ghana’s natural water bodies heavily polluted, as well as the negative ripple effects on crop production and other agricultural activities.<\/p>\n
There is currently a six-month ban on\u00a0small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its degrading effects on the environment.<\/p>\n
Delivering the speech, Derick Romeo Adogla,\u00a0\u200ean External Relations and Communications Officer at the Chamber, indicated\u00a0the need for responsible conservation to overcome some of the major environmental problems brought on by illegal mining and other environmentally degrading human activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no doubt that responsible conservation is a crucial way to solve environmental problems. It is important to recognize however, that creating wealth and protecting the environment must coexist. The environment cannot be protected by conservation alone.”<\/p>\n
Mr. Adogla reminded of the calling cards of illegal miners, some of which\u00a0have over the years upgraded to the use of\u00a0\u00a0heavy earth-moving equipment and banned chemicals \u00a0which \u00a0have created “tremendous challenges for our water resources managers in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n