Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
In a passionate plea for environmental preservation, Hon. Dr. Michael Mensah, Municipal Chief Executive of Ayawaso West, has launched a critical campaign to combat Accra's rapidly deteriorating air quality through strategic urban greening.
Speaking at PSS URBANIA recent Air Quality Enforcement Meeting in Accra, Dr. Mensah highlighted the alarming state of vegetation in Ghana's capital, warning that the city is becoming an "urban desert" devoid of life-sustaining greenery. With the Achimota Forest standing as the last remaining significant green belt, the municipality is now calling for a radical transformation of urban development practices.
"No matter how beautiful your house is, without vegetation, it remains incomplete," Dr. Mensah emphasized, challenging developers and residents alike to reimagine urban spaces. His vision is simple yet revolutionary: one tree per house could dramatically improve air quality and urban resilience.
The municipal leader exposed critical challenges in current urban planning, noting that expensive land prices often discourage developers from incorporating green spaces. However, he stressed that even small interventions like ground covers and shrubs can make substantial differences in air quality and water management.
Beyond aesthetic considerations, Dr. Mensah underscored the health implications. Vegetation acts as a natural air purifier, absorbing harmful particulate matter and improving respiratory conditions for urban residents. With rising urbanization and increasing vehicular emissions, the need for green interventions has never been more urgent.
The municipality is now preparing to implement stricter enforcement mechanisms, promising to scrutinize building permits more rigorously and ensure that green space requirements are not just recommended, but mandatory.
This initiative aligns with broader global sustainable development goals, targeting improvements in urban health, community sustainability, and climate action. As Accra stands at this critical environmental crossroads, Dr. Mensah's passionate call might just be the breath of fresh air the city desperately needs.
The Ministry of Chieftaincy is spearheading a comprehensive approach to environmental policy development and implementation. Usama Iddrisu Samu, Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, outlined an ambitious strategy to strengthen environmental regulations and enforcement.
The ministry is currently working on developing critical policy documents that will undergo rigorous review, first by the cabinet and then by Parliament. Once approved, these policies will become legally binding, providing a robust framework for addressing environmental challenges, particularly air pollution.
A key focus of the initiative is the Smart SDG Project, which aims to support local assemblies in creating more sustainable environmental practices. The ministry is committed to developing an integrated policy document that will promote successful environmental management and careers.
One of the most significant challenges highlighted is the expensive process of gazetting bylaws. Gazetting is crucial for legal enforcement, as non-gazetted bylaws can be easily dismissed in court. The ministry is actively negotiating with relevant bodies to reduce the cost of this critical legal step, ensuring that environmental regulations can be effectively implemented.
The ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive system that brings discipline and order to environmental management. By ensuring that bylaws are properly gazetted and legally enforceable, the ministry hopes to create a more accountable approach to environmental protection.
This initiative represents a critical step forward in Ghana's environmental policy, demonstrating a proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.
