Ghana celebrates World Environment Day on Friday, June 6

General News on Friday, May 31, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-31

Ghana will celebrate World Environment Day, a United Nations-led global event for the environment, on Friday, 6 June instead of Thursday, 5 June.

A statement from the Ministry of Science of Environment, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) said that the change of the date of the celebration is the result of its date of coincidence with the date of the celebration. Eid-Fit Fitr.

The overall theme of this year's event is: "Air Pollution", which is a global emergency that concerns everyone.

According to the statement, seven million people in the world die prematurely each year from air pollution.

This day aims to draw the attention of governments, industry, communities and individuals to the improvement of air quality in cities and towns. regions of the world by putting in place solutions in many sectors.

In Ghana, the press release indicates that the day will be celebrated under the theme "Clean Air; Our life line and shared responsibility. "

The statistics indicated that the lower respiratory infection was the second leading cause of malaria and caused 3,000 deaths among children under 5 among the 10 diseases in Ghana.

"While 2,800 preventable lives were lost in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) in 2015 due to the effects of air pollution and related diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, pulmonary and aggravation of asthma, "he said.

The statement noted that the Environmental Protection Agency, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, was undertaking an awareness program. one week in GAMA to sensitize identified groups; fish processors, Kenkey sellers, scrap metal traders and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union on the adverse effects of open burning, vehicle emissions and air pollution in general as part of this year's celebration.

The campaign aimed to introduce groups to certain air quality technologies such as improved stoves, demonstrations of air quality measurements and their implications for human health and the environment. environment.

At the WED event, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the MEST minister gave a speech and launched Ghana's air quality standards at a symposium held in the auditorium from WADA on June 6, 2019 to mark the climax of this year's event.