Veep calls for efforts to protect country’s vegetation

The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has underscored the need for concerted efforts to protect the country's vegetation to sustain water bodies for the operations of the various irrigation facilities and hydro-electric dams.

He said the loss of the country's vegetative cover had impacted negatively on its water bodies and immensely affected the operations of irrigation and hydro-electric facilities.

The Vice-President made the call when a high-powered delegation from the Republic of Congo, led by a Special Aide to President Sassou Nguesso, Mr Henri Diombo, called on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra last Tuesday.

The delegation was at the Flagstaff House to deliver a special message to President John Dramani Mahama.

Invitation

Although the content of the message was not disclosed, it is believed to be an invitation extended to President Mahama to participate in an international conference on the environment scheduled for Brazzaville at the end of this month.

The conference, which will be held under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), will attract leading personalities from Africa, such as the current Chairman of the African Union, Mr Robert Mugabe, who is also the President of Zimbabwe.

It will, among other issues, discuss illegal logging in Africa and how it has contributed to deforestation and caused climate change.

Effects

The Vice-President said the rainfall pattern in the country and elsewhere on the continent had become erratic and that was partly responsible for the drying up of water bodies.

The situation, he said, had invariably affected agricultural production and seriously undermined the operations of hydro-electric dams, resulting in power crisis in a number of African countries, including Ghana.

He said the government attached great importance to issues related to the environment, especially vegetation, and in that direction would continue to support institutions which were mandated to prevent the pillage of the country's forest.

Appreciation

For his part, Mr Diombo thanked Mr Amissah-Arthur for the warm reception accorded his delegation and remarked that the gesture would be conveyed to President Nguesso.

He praised Ghana for its democratic credentials and commended President Mahama for his  role in promoting democracy and good governance in the West African sub-region.