NORTHERN CHIEFS, PEOPLE REVIEW NEW ENVIRONMENT POLICY (PAGE 34, APRIL 26, 2011)

SOME chiefs and people of the Northern Region have made recommendations towards improving the new National Environmental Policy being drafted by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.
Key among these is the need to give adequate mention and attention to the menace of bush fires and uncontrolled activities of pastoralists, particularly the Fulani herdsmen.
They argued that bush fires had negative implications for soil fertility, vegetative growth and biodiversity, in addition to the destruction caused to human settlements and property.
They also noted that the Fulani herdsmen were causing damage to water bodies, farmlands and engaged in over grazing, all of which have a heavy toll on the environment.
The recommendations were made at a consultative workshop in Tamale organised by the environment ministry as part of efforts to seek the inputs of stakeholders in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions on the draft policy.
The ministry is drafting the new environment policy with support from the United Nations Development Programme.
The draft policy identifies land degradation, deforestation, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, mining and industrial development, marine and coastal degradation, urbanisation and climate change as some of the key environmental challenges.
Chief Von Salifu, one of the participants argued that there was the need for the new policy to capture all aspects of environmental concerns pertaining to various parts of the country.
“For us in the north, we know that bushfires is one, if not the main, environmental challenge facing us. It would be a disaster, therefore, if this new policy fails to adequately address this canker,” he stated.
Chief Salifu again stressed the need for this policy to lead to positive action to salvage the environment, explaining that past policies have been poorly implemented.
Making a presentation on the draft policy, the Technical Director at the MEST, Dr Nicholas Kassim Iddi mentioned that the formulation of environmental policies was aimed at ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s environmental policies.
He mentioned that the 1992 Environmental Policy attempted to meet these goals, but noted that the challenge has been ineffective enforcement of the policies and laws that exist to achieve these goals.
Dr Iddi said the new policy would attempt to restructure and redirect the implementation strategy to achieve the desired results.
The Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Northern Region, Mr Iddrisu Abu noted that the recommendations would be incorporated to ensure that the policy meets the expectations for stakeholders.
He however entreated the participants, particularly chiefs and local government authorities, to play a lead role in helping protect the country’s environment.
“As chiefs, you are the custodians of the land and you command authority, so you are in the right position to bring a stop to some of the activities that are helping degrade the environment at an alarming rate,” Mr Abu stated.