The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The golden jubilee celebration will mark a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s environment.
Dr. John Kingsley Krugu, the Executive Director of the EPA, in an interview on A1 Radio, highlighted that the EPA’s influence extends across all sectors of the country, with every project and policy requiring EPA approval.
“The reason why the EPA is so central is because there’s nothing that you can do in this country without an EPA permit.”
He said plans are underway to elevate the EPA from an agency to an authority, which would enhance its regulatory powers and effectiveness in environmental protection.
“We are working to transition the EPA from an agency into an authority such that it will have more powers to bite,” he said.
Dr. Krugu also noted his focus on leveraging his position to benefit his constituency. He aims to engage with major polluters to promote carbon market development, which he believes will provide substantial economic opportunities for the youth in Zebilla.
“As part of my vision for the constituency, this is one of the areas that I say as a member of Parliament, I will engage with these big polluters and bring them to my constituency, get the youth in my constituency to go into carbon market development and earn some decent income.”
He highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader vision to integrate environmental education and climate change awareness into local communities and economic development.
Additionally, he stated that the EPA is incorporating environmental education into school curricula for the first time, underscoring its commitment to fostering a future generation that is well-informed about climate issues and carbon markets.
“Our 50-year celebration, we’ve made it a key component to do environmental education and the carbon market project is critical.” “For the first time, the EPA is putting environmental education and climate change in the educational curriculum,” Dr. Krugu emphasized.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|Gifty Eyram Kudabior|101.1 MHz|Bolgatanga|Â