The Sunyani West Municipal Assembly in the Bono Region has marked this year’s International Earth Day under the theme: “Our Power, Your Planet.”
The Physical Planning Department of the Assembly spearheaded the celebration with emphasis on the need for urgent climate change actions, especially with regards to various human activities that endanger the earth.
The Head of the Physical Planning Department, Planner Gifty Nyarko, in an interview with journalists, made appealed to Ghanaians to take urgent and united environmental actions to sustain the environment and stop it from further degradation.
She explained that the theme reflects the collective strength human beings wield and the shared responsibility to preserve the planet, saying, “Our Power” refers to the influence individuals including planners, nananom and government hold in shaping the planet (earth).
Planner Nyarko noted that physical planners of the various assemblies in the country are at a unique position to positively impact land use, guide urban growth, and direct sustainable use of natural resources.
“The way we design our cities and manage development today will define the environmental legacy we leave behind tomorrow”, she said.
According to her, strategic planning must be centered on long-term sustainability where planners balance development with environmental integrity and ensure resilience and ecological health.
Environmental crises
She expressed grave concern about human activities such as illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, and called for urgent measures to avert any environmental crises.
For instance, she said, the Food and Agriculture Organization in (FAO, 2020), reports that millions of acres of forests are being lost each year stressing deforestation undermining biodiversity and accelerating climate change by removing key carbon sinks.
Planner Nyarko also pointed to NASA (2020) data that indicates global temperatures continue to rise leading to extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
These events, she noted, disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
Another report is the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD, 2017). It says soil degradation is caused by poor farming practices and deforestation. These, she said, were undermining global food security.
Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Fund-WWF (2020) has also reported that biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate due to habitat destruction and overuse of resources.
Plastic pollution
Another area of alarm, she added, is plastic pollution; describing the damage done by millions of tons of plastic materials entering oceans annually as posing danger to aquatic life and by extension humans.
The WHO (2018) report indicates air pollution is linked to millions of premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The threat to global water supply was also part of the assembly’s concern. According to her, UNICEF and WHO (2019), reports suggest billions of people face water scarcity due to pollution, climate impacts, and inefficient water use.
Due to the above challenges the Earth is facing, the Sunyani West Assembly is embarking on a transition to renewable energy.
According to her, this is a “non-negotiable” step towards lowering emissions and creating green jobs, adding that sustainable energy is not just about climate but also about economic opportunity and energy equity.
She is therefore calling for emphasis on reforestation, conservation of biodiversity, and the adoption of environmentally friendly farming techniques which she said is encouraging community members to employ and showing them how to go about it.
Another area she said has engaged her attention is that planning must go beyond infrastructure to protect ecosystems, promote green spaces, and reduce waste.
“All these we are encouraging within the Sunyani West Municipality. The assembly is also ensuring local participation where communities do not just become victims of environmental decline but powerful agents for change”, Planner Nyarko stated.
She therefore praised local waste-reduction efforts and water-saving campaigns, stating grassroots action is essential for long-term success.
Inclusive planning
She called for inclusive planning where women, youth groups, and indigenous people are engaged. These groups hold vital knowledge and unique insights into ecological stewardship. “True sustainability can’t exist without equity and inclusion,” she added.
Planner Gifty Nyarko is therefore calling for unified action from all sectors including government, civil society organizations, businesses, and individuals to fight the canker of environmental degradation such as galamsey.
In her view, the challenges humanity faces such as climate change, resource depletion, and pollution can be fought through coordinated efforts and bold action.
Story by Daniel Y. Dayee, Sunyani
