By Elorm Yao Aryee
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has opened its first-ever municipal office at Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region. This initiative forms part of the Authority’s drive to decentralize its activities to the local level in order to protect the environment from degradation.
The Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Klutse, who was on a working tour in the Municipality, called on the people to support the EPA in combating the menace of illegal sand winning, which is devastating the environment in several communities.
Large-scale sand winning and its devastating effects have been a major concern for residents in some communities within the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region. This illegal activity, ongoing for years, has degraded the environment in these communities, and stakeholders fear a looming disaster if the menace is not curbed.
The inauguration of the EPA’s first municipal office at Dzodze is therefore a significant step toward stopping sand winning and other forms of environmental degradation in the Municipality.
The initiative was a collaboration between the EPA, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, and the Ketu North Municipal Assembly.
Earlier, the CEO of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Klutse, and her team visited Wovenu and Dzodze Penyi Senior High Schools in the Municipality to sensitize students on the need to protect the environment from pollution and degradation.
The EPA seeks to inculcate safe environmental practices among students. Professor Klutse emphasized the numerous environmental challenges facing the country, including air pollution, environmental degradation, poor waste management systems, and the impact of climate change.
She warned against the harmful effects of these challenges on human health and life expectancy, urging students to participate in the Authority’s campaign to protect nature.
Professor Klutse also led a tree planting exercise at both schools as part of activities marking World Environment Day.
At the inauguration of the EPA office at Dzodze, Professor Klutse urged the people of the area to partner with EPA staff to carry out its mandate effectively.
The MP for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, has initiated an afforestation and waste management project to improve vegetation cover and ensure a cleaner environment in the area.
He also intends to collaborate with the management of second-cycle institutions in the area to begin school farm projects.
Mr. Agbana said the new EPA office would be instrumental in the people of Ketu North’s efforts to protect their environment.
The Ketu North Municipal Chief Executive, Rev. Martin Amenaki, pledged to work with the EPA to safeguard lands and water bodies in the area from degradation and pollution.
