Managing The Environmental Crisis In Ghana

Due to the strong inroads that Western scientism and Western Christianity have made in Africa as a result of colonialism, post-colonial African governments have tended to rely solely on Western scientific conservation epistemologies and models to the neglect of those of the Indigenous African peoples in addressing their environmental problems. However, there is enough evidence that neither modern (scientific) nor indigenous epistemologies and modes of addressing current ecological problems ar...

Master's Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: -, , language: English, abstract: The overall objective of the study was to assess the respondents’ perception of human-induced environmental challenges in the municipality. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the association between respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and their environmental perceptions or concerns; assess the respondents’ knowledge of environmental problems in the municipality; examine the respondents’ perception on the causes of the environmental problems; and examine the respondents’ views on improving upon the quality of their environment. The effects of human activities on the environment are evident in the changes to the functioning of the ecosystems, earth’s oceans, atmosphere, freshwater systems, and land surfaces resulting in environmental challenges including freshwater shortages, climate change, lost of biodiversity and exhaustion of fisheries. Birim Central Municipality is endowed with abundant natural resources such as diamond and gold deposits, forest, fertile soil and many water bodies, which contribute to the socio-economic development of the municipality and the country as a whole. In spite of the continuous exploitation of these natural resources to meet the legitimate socio-economic aspirations of the people, adequate care has not often been taken to guard against the depletion and mismanagement of the resources in the municipality. This attitude has led to increase in human-induced environmental challenges such as land degradation, water and air pollution in the municipality. Moreover, there seem to be little or no effort by the residents in addressing the overexploitation of such resources and its impacts on the environment as well as on the people. The issue of deforestation in Birim Central Municipality has become a serious concern for the Municipal Assembly. However, efforts by the Assembly to clump down on indiscriminate activities of the sawmill industries, charcoal burners, farmers and mining companies on the forest have not recorded much success. For example, the Forestry Commission Division of the Assembly made an attempt to register and to be able to monitor and control the activities of the chainsaw operators but only few were registered. In addition to the depletion of the forest, the future source of livelihood of many of the people which depends upon the natural environment will be severely affected.

This book is the second edited compilation of selected, refereed papers submitted to ERTEP 2007. The book is organized into 10 chapters along four of the key themes that were discussed at the conference: Environmental Health Management; Mining and Environment; Environmental Monitoring and Policy Development; and Susta- ability and Social Responsibility. It is hoped that the contents of the book will p- vide an insight into some of the environmental and health management challenges confronting the developing world and the steps being taken to address them. The ?rst three chapters under the Environmental Health and Management theme discusses issues related to food security and related environmental distress in sub- Saharan Africa. Chapter 1 argues that pervasive poverty and low agricultural p- ductivity are important factors in understanding food insecurity in the region, and broader global processes are examined. This chapter maintains that while poverty undermines individual and household access to suf?cient food through market p- chase, land inequalities, corruption, structural adjustment programs, civil con?ict, HIV/AIDS and the role of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Agric- ture are decisive. The authors argue that achieving food security in sub-Saharan Africa requires policies and actions that are integrated with efforts to reduce poverty, enhance livelihoods and incomes and increase agricultural output, while also paying attention to underlying structural factors that bear on agriculture in the region.

Suggests to re-examine the legal regimes that have fostered the renewed rush, the guidelines on environmental protection, and the support of mining support organisations. Concentrates on gold mining in Tarkwa and its neighbouring villages.

Scientific Study from the year 2008 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: B, , language: English, abstract: Health, environment and poverty are closely interrelated and inseparable, particularly in developing countries. WHO estimates that environmental factors are the root cause of 25% of the total burden of disease worldwide and account for about 35% in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Effective environmental management is the key to avoiding a quarter of all preventable illnesses which are directly caused by environmental factors. In the Bibiani-Bekwai and Sefwi Wiawso Districts of the Western Region of Ghana, the environment has been altered by complex human induced factors, which have negatively impacted on the health of the population. This paper seeks to establish the major causes of environmental and human health degradation and whether there is a direct link between environmental degradation and human health in Bibiani-Bekwai and the Sefwi Wiawso Districts in the Western Region of Ghana. Four complementary approaches were used during the investigation: extensive literature review, consultations with key informants, the administration of questionnaires, and stakeholder consultations. The data was analyzed using SPSS to establish the linkages between environmental deterioration and human health in the two districts. The results clearly suggest that environmental degradation seriously affects human health in the two districts. 80% of the ailments in Bibiani-Bekwai and Sefwi Wiawso Districts are attributable to poor environmental health and sanitation and lack of access to good drinking water. Never in the history of mankind has greater attention been given to environment and health (Agyemang et al., 2007). It is estimated that 80 percent of all sickness in the world is attributable to poor environmental factors (WHO, 2007; Housewright and Mihelcic, 2002; Shimkim et al., 2005). Environmental related diseases represent an enormous global public health challenge, particularly in developing countries and impoverished communities (WHO, 2007; Shimkim et al., 2005). Health and well being of humans cannot be separated from the natural environment (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005; WHO, 2008). Human health and environmental issues have become a major concern in the world and have received considerable political recognition since the 1970s. In its broadest sense, environmental health comprises those aspects of human health, diseases, and injury that are determined or influenced by factors in the environment (WHO, 1997).

Winner of the Prix Pierre Chauleur of the French Academie des Sciences d'Outre-Mer Until some way is found of dealing with Africa's catastrophic environmental crises none of the continent's other problems will find a long-term solution. Yet there is hope, and Crisis and Opportunity sets out a programme for dealing with the problems successfully. Written in a clear and engaging style, the book shows how environmental management can be achieved and institutionalized from within Africa, rather than through interference from the West, by implementing National Environmental Action Plans (NEAPS). Aware of the urgency of the problems, Francois Falloux and Lee Talbot offer practical guidelines based on direct experience and incorporate a great range of relevant case studies and examples. Their book will be of enormous importance to the governments, local communities and development agencies confronting the issues, and may mark a milestone if recovery in Africa is to take place. Francois Falloux is Senior Environmental Advisor, Africa Region at the World Bank. Dr Lee M Talbot is a former Director-General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Originally published in 1993

The Ghana Country Environment Analysis (CEA) has thus been formulated to assist the Government of Ghana and its development partners to: (a) assess the country's environmental priorities in key sectors, the environmental implications of key economic and sector policies, and the country's institutional capacity to address them; and (b) find practical management, institutional, and policy solutions to handle issues of natural resource management, environmental degradation, and sustainability of growth. Based on the results of the sectoral analysis, the key messages of the CEA can be summarized as follows: strengthening environmental governance is key to ensuring that natural resources contribute to greater wealth and sustainable growth; removing policy, regulatory, and institutional bottlenecks is crucial for reducing vulnerability of the poor in both rural and urban areas; reinforcing coordination and dialogue to mainstream ENRM is critical; and ministries, departments, and agencies in all the natural resource and environment sectors face common challenges.

This book questions and explores the appropriateness of Western models of environmental impact assessment for Third World application. The book also examines Ghana's environmental impact assessment procedure and the potential role of indigenous knowledge and institutions in the assessment process, based on the results of a field research in Ghana. Finally, the book offers suggestions that could improve Ghana's environmental impact assessment procedure and facilitate its adoption in other developing countries, this book will be of interest to environmental assessment professionals and students, international development agencies, NGOs, planners, academicians, and policy makers looking for bottom-up and effective ways of incorporating environmental considerations in development projects in developing countries.