News
Increase investment in digital technologies to address Wildlife Challenges- Ecocare Ghana
EcoCare Ghana, a prominent environmental advocacy organisation, is urging for increased investment and the implementation of advanced digital technologies to address the growing challenges facing Ghana’s wildlife on Widelife Day.
The World Wildlife Day, March 3, is a day set to celebrate the natural world and to raise awareness of the importance of protecting wildlife.
The group emphasises the importance of creating a centralised data system to store and share information collected by scientists, researchers and the public in order to better protect Ghana’s wildlife.
Additionally, they stated that this centralised data system will facilitate precise data collection on the remaining wildlife, predict future trends and develop proactive solutions to prevent extinction.
Ghana is celebrated for its seven national parks, six resource reserves, two wildlife sanctuaries and diverse biodiversity.
The country known for hosting over 750 bird species and iconic wildlife like antelopes, elephants, primates, baboons, marine turtles, and crocodiles is currently encountering unparalleled challenges.
Various human activities, such as poaching, deforestation, pollution, overfishing, overhunting, illegal trade, and both legal and illegal mining, have pushed many species to the verge of extinction, according to Global Forest Watch. The report shows a significant loss of 118,000 hectares of natural forest in 2022.
Although there are continuous attempts to conserve and manage biodiversity sustainably, conventional conservation approaches have limited effectiveness.
In light of this, Ecocare Ghana emphasised in a statement the importance and timeliness of the World Wildlife Day (WWD) 202 on the theme ‘Connecting People and Planet: Exploring digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”
The organisation stated that in a time where technology plays a significant role in society, incorporating digital innovations into wildlife conservation is essential for advocating sustainability.
“As we commemorate WWD today, it is crucial to highlight certain events within our country that are hindering the efforts to preserve and protect the habitats of wildlife and biodiversity is important to draw attention to some occurrences on the domestic scene which is undermining efforts being made to protect and safeguard the habitat of wildlife and other biodiversity,” they added.
The recent choice made by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to reclassify Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) and permit logging in these areas is a significant setback to the positive leadership he demonstrated on the global stage.
They, therefore, also used this occasion to call for the repeal of LI 2462 which allows for mining in forest reserves and other protected areas.
According to them “EcoCare Ghana advocates for the strategic use of technology to benefit both people and the environment. This is a critical moment to strengthen the bond between humans and the natural world through the integration of technology in wildlife conservation initiative We call on all stakeholders to prioritise and support digital innovations to protect Ghana’s wildlife for future generations.”
News
Prof. Mike Oquaye accuses gov’t of ‘secret trial’ of Chief Justice
Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as the mishandling of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
He is unhappy with the constitutional provision requiring the hearing of the Chief Justice’s case to be held in-camera.
“I am concerned about certain issues that I consider vital, particularly the trial in-camera provision. You will ask yourself what the rationale is for that provision in our constitution, what is its purpose, and if we are to give it a purposeful interpretation, where shall we go? The purpose is it to benefit the people of Ghana as a whole, that the Chief Justice must be trial in-camera…”
He added, “From the very beginning, the constitution tells us justice belongs to the people, it emanates from the people, justice belongs to all of us people, one may say that this provision could be advarance to the one that says trial must be done in-camera.” he said in an exclusive interview with JoyNews.
Prof. Oquaye also raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the process.
He argued that the judiciary must be insulated from political interference, adding that the current handling of the matter risks eroding confidence in the rule of law.
The Chief Justice was recently suspended following allegations of misconduct, after which a formal petition was submitted to President John Mahama, prompting the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
The proceedings, however, have largely been conducted in-camera, drawing criticism from sections of the public and some legal minds.
While the NDC government maintains that the suspension was carried out in accordance with constitutional provisions, Prof. Quaye argues that the secrecy surrounding the process undermines the principles of accountability and due process.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
News
Committee on Roads and Transport engages Transport Ministry
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has paid a familiarization visit to the Ministry of Transport and its agencies to perform its legislative oversight and foster collaboration in Ghana’s transport sector.
The visit by the 17-member Committee led by its Chairman, Isaac Adjei Mensah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Wassa East Constituency in the Western Region, was aimed at getting updates on ongoing projects and foster direct dialogue with agencies under the Ministry’s purview.
The Chairman of the committee described the visit as “a strategic and symbolic gesture” and emphasized the importance of direct engagement with sector leadership to enable informed legislative support.
The Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe outlined some reforms including a framework to regularize commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada by lowering the minimum rider age from 25 years to 21 years, which is near completion and will soon be presented to Parliament.
He also mentioned the reviving of Ghana’s national carrier via a public-private partnership, upgrading airport infrastructure, studying coastal routes to ease road congestion, opening a new DVLA branch in Adenta, and upgrading the Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry is in the process of procuring new buses for Metro Mass and STC.
The other Members of the visiting Committee were Chiwitey Dari Andrew, Vice Chairperson and MP for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba; Osei Nyarko Kennedy, MP for Akim Swedru and the Ranking Member; Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP for Bantama; Frimpong Kwame Ohene, MP for Asante Akim North; Cudjoe Doyoe Comfort, Ada MP; Marfo Ahenkorah Kofi, MP for Achiase; Mahama Toure Naser, Ayawaso East MP; Ziedeng Anwataazumo Bede, MP for Lawra and Mubarak Seid, MP for Sunyani East.
The Committee also visited the Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Training Centre to be acquainted with its functions and operations.
