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43-yr old barber initiates environmental campaign to keep Oti river clean
‘Do The Right Thing’ at work at the landing site of the Oti river
A 43-year old barber, Mr Gilbert Addae, popularly known as ‘Do the Right Thing’ has turned himself into an environmental crusader, undertaking regular clean-up exercise at the landing sites of the Oti river at Dambai, in the Krachi-East Municipality of the Oti Region.
The decision was to create awareness on environmental cleanliness to enable him change the negative attitude of people about the environment, and avoid littering their communities, particularly the landing sites at Dambai.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Addae explained that he developed an interest in keeping the surroundings of river Oti clean for the past four years.
According to Mr Addae, he made cleaning the landing site a major responsibility, hoping that people would appreciate his efforts, emulate and join him, and in the process stop littering around the water body, which served as a major source of water for the people.
Sadly, he said it appears his efforts is going unnoticed, saying that, “the greatest appreciation I expected was for the residents to stop littering around water bodies and the environment, but anytime I clean, the following day one would see a new heap of rubbish.”
According to Mr Addae, he leaves his barbering shop in the morning for the clean-up exercise and follow up with education on the need to keep their surroundings clean, particularly fishermen, passengers of the pontoon and traders.
Mr ‘Do the Right Thing’ said the Oti Regional Director of Environmental Health (RDEH), Mrs Sybil Marie Boison, had helped in carrying out his new found passion by buying him a smart phone and provided him with reflective uniforms, wellington boots and hand gloves.
Mr Addae further explained that the smartphone helped him to call the Regional Director for advice whenever he needed technical support to enable him perform his unofficial duties well.
Moreover, Mr Addae stated that after four years of collecting waste material at the landing site, he became used to not only keeping the area clean but rather extends to the entire environment.
But that, he said, has not affected his barbering business which he maintains a high level of concentration on.
“This is not affecting my business at all. After going about my clean-up campaign, I return to my shop to do my barbering business in the afternoon,” he added.
For the long term, ‘Do The Right Thing’ has a vision to form groups in order to educate people on environmental cleanliness beyond the Krachi-East Municipality.
When contacted, the Oti Regional Director of Environmental Health, Mrs Sybil Marie Boison, commended ‘Do the Right Thing’ for the passion to clean the surroundings of the Oti river, and asked others to emulate his good example to ensure a clean community.
From Samuel Agbewode , Dambai
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
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Small-scale miners schooled on health hazards of mining with mercury
Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants
Some Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti and Central regions have been sensitised on the potential health dangers humans are exposed to with the use of mercury in gold processing.
The sensitisation which was organised by PlanetGOLD Ghana project was to raise awareness about the negative impacts on the use of mercury in mining activities.
According to the PlanetGOLD Ghana Project Coordinator, Mr Lovelace Sarpong, the use of mercury in artisanal small-scale mining pose health challenges that affects the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys; and may be fatal.
Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that benefited from the exercise were Amansie Central, Asante Akim North, Amansie South, Amansie West, Bekwai, and Adansi North in the Ashanti Region, and Upper Denkyira East (Dunkwa-on-Offin) and Upper Denkyira West (Diaso) in the Central Region.
Additionally, he said inorganic salts of mercury were corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
He stated that the PlanetGOLD Project has conducted several initiatives to raise awareness on reducing mercury exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold mining actors in the country.
It was to promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, support the formalisation of the ASGM sector while advocating the adoption of the CRAFT Code and responsible supply chains, and raise awareness on the availability of mercury-free alternatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area Head for Konongo, Mr Dawood Abbas, underscored the importance of government’s environmental regulations and EPA’s role in ensuring compliance within the ASGM sector.
He encouraged miners to prioritise environmental stewardship to gain community trust and secure a Social License to Operate (SLO) and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to enforce its commitments under the Minamata Convention.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
