Govt industrialisation agenda tied to environment — EPA CEO

The government’s industrialisation agenda is tied to the elimination of the negative impacts of industrial growth on the environment, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has said.

Aware that industrial growth played  a significant  role in the degradation of the environment, he said the EPA was playing its role with all seriousness to largely minimise if not completely eliminate the impacts.

Dr Kokofu said this when he interacted with the managements of  Contracta Construction UK Limited  and Logs and Lumber Limited (LLL), both in Kumasi last Monday.

The tour is to enable the CEO to acquaint himself with how best the industries were pursuing sound and responsible practices through applicable regulations and standards in their processing operations .

It was also to ensure that the private sector increased its interest in adopting modern processing for clean and resource-efficient production.

Contracta Construction is currently undertaking construction of the Terminal building at the Kumasi Airport,

Strategies

Dr Kokofu said it would be prudent for public and private sector stakeholders to jointly implement strategies for efficient environment-friendly and climate-friendly initiatives.

He emphasised that the EPA had adopted methods for the reduction of acute environmental pollution and for improving resource efficiency in industrial production.

He, however, noted that the prospects for the government to increase its efforts to protect the environment ultimately relied on public support.

Carbon emissions

Dr Kokofu stressed that carbon emissions contributed to climate change which could have serious consequences for human lives and the environment.

He noted that industrial growth was one of the key aspects of a country's development and emphasised that it was the avowed aim of the government to enhance the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the country's gross domestic product.

He commended the two companies for working in close collaboration with the EPA and following all the necessary protocols for sustainable environmental  development.

Significant player

The Managing Director of the LLL Company, Mr Richard Kuagbela, had said earlier that since the company became a sawmill in 1967, it had undergone transformation to become a significant player in the wood industry.

He said the company had over a 1,000 workforce and most of its produce were for the export market.

The company, Mr Kuagbela noted, strived to practise and promote the principle of sustainability and therefore aimed to achieve the highest environmental standard while maintaining the social responsibilities and corporate image in line with its environmental policy.

He said the company was also committed to efficient forest resource management and development while at the same time pursuing sound and responsible environmental practices.

The Project Manager of Contracta, Mr Allan Prazeto, disclosed that the terminal being constructed by the company at the Kumasi Airport would have the capacity to take one million passengers a year.

He said the project would be completed in March next year.

He stressed that the company strictly adhered to all EPA protocols

Mr Prazeto said the company had established conducive conditions which  focused on the conveyance, treatment, management of sewerage sludge and monitoring systems.

Dr Kokofu was accompanied by the Ag. Ashanti Regional  Director of EPA, Mr Samuel Oteng.