Depletion of Ghana's Natural Resources Alarming
10 per cent of the Ghana's Gross Domestic Product(GDP) is lost annually through annually through unsustainable management of natural resources.
Though the country is well endowed with natural resources, Gold, and timber, Ghana has twice the per ca pita output of the poorer countries in West Africa and remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange.
Much of the country's economic activities and the livelihood of the people depend on the country's natural resources but a study has indicated that it is being depleted at an alarming rate.
many concerns have been expressed with experts and stakeholders expressing diverse views on how to sustain Ghana's resource.
civil society organisations (CSO) have also been called upon to partner government to find lasting solution to the challenges that confront the conservation and sustainability of the natural resources.
An official of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP) which sponsored the study on the cost of environmental degradation thinks strengthening environmental environmental governance is fundamental to ensuring that a greater benefit is derived from Ghana's natural resources.
How will this be done? he is queried and he states that a more efficient utilisation of natural resources, better collection of revenue and a greater equity in the distribution of the benefits from resource exploitation would safe the nation a great deal.
Nana Juabeng-Boateng Sireboe who is the Chief Director at the MoFEP also mentioned that it would require better regulation and management.
Institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency, Forestry Commission and the Mines Commission have been tasked to undertake Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (NREG) and members of these institutions held a civil society consultative Forum on Tuesday January 19, 2009.
The NREG which started in 2008 and has its first phase expiring by 2012 focuses on key aspects of governance reforms in forestry, mining and environmental management. it is also to ensure improved environmental governance , reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
At the forum, the participants who were mostly stakeholders involved in the natural resource and environmental industry indicated how they could facilitate new research and advocacy initiatives for the achievement of NREG priorities and progress.
Lidi Remmelzwaal, Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana announced that her country is providing 1.6 million pounds as its contribution towards the creation of a Multi Donor funded civil society facility that would assist building capacity of CSO.
" no institution can solve the environmental degradation problem alone," she said and called for a common approach and a combined effort by all stakeholders " for the good of the Ghanaian society."
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