The Atiwa East District Assembly has launched an environmental awareness program targeting school children as part of efforts to combat illegal mining and plastic pollution in the area.
The initiative, spearheaded by the National Commission for Civic Education, aims to instill a culture of environmental responsibility among the young ones.
The Atiwa East District in the Eastern Region remains one of the areas hardest hit by the activities of illegal miners.
The menace, locally known as galamsey, has led to the pollution of major water bodies, destruction of farmlands, and threatened livelihoods in several communities.
The District Chief Executive, Ernest Owusu Ntim, said the environmental awareness campaign believes the initiative if sustained will help instil positive environmental mindset and produce environmental advocates and activists among the younger generation.
“It was organized to bring the children together so that they will have positive mindset towards everything that has to do with the environment that will destroy the environment and everything . Here is a mining area so we also have to let them know the need for us to even do safe mining so that they will educate their parents and other elderly ones who are also involved” .
The District Director of the NCCE, Saviour Ametefe, emphasized the importance of sustained advocacy at the grassroots to deal with the challenge of environmental degradation.
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The program, which forms part of this year’s World Environment Day celebration, featured an environmental quiz competition and other activities for school children and sensitization sessions on the effects of illegal mining, plastic waste management, and climate change.
Addressing the school children, the District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Joseph Agbeko, urged the students to embrace their civic responsibility by protecting the environment.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Obed Kojo Ansah
