Accra: Ghana's future depends on how effectively it protects and restores its natural ecosystems, Prof. Edward Wiafe Debrah of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has stated, calling for collective action to confront the country's growing environmental challenges. He urged the need to urgently protect forests, rivers, wetlands, and biodiversity while tackling flooding, illegal mining, and pollution to secure a climate-resilient future.
According to Ghana News Agency, marking World Environment Day 2026, celebrated globally under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) theme, 'Inspired by Nature: For Climate. For Our Future,' Prof. Debrah said nature should not be viewed merely as a resource for exploitation but as a critical partner in building climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. The theme underscores the importance of healthy ecosystems in addressing climate change and safeguarding future generations.
He emphasized that Ghana's forests, rivers, wetlands, farmlands, coastal ecosystems, and biodiversity provide essential services, including clean water, fertile soils, pollination, food production, climate regulation, and disaster protection. However, he warned that environmental degradation was already undermining livelihoods, weakening economic systems, and increasing vulnerabilities across communities. Climate change was disrupting rainfall patterns, reducing agricultural productivity, affecting water availability, and creating public health challenges.
Prof. Debrah identified recurring flooding in Accra and other urban centres as one of the most visible consequences of environmental mismanagement. While acknowledging the role of heavy rainfall, he attributed the worsening floods to poor urban planning, encroachment on waterways, indiscriminate waste disposal, destruction of wetlands, and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Flooding, he stated, has become a major socio-economic and environmental challenge requiring urgent attention.
Illegal mining, known as galamsey, was highlighted as another major threat to Ghana's environmental sustainability. Prof. Debrah noted that illegal mining was destroying forests, degrading fertile farmlands, polluting rivers, and damaging aquatic ecosystems. The resulting increase in water treatment costs and loss of ecosystem services was placing significant pressure on both government and local communities.
Prof. Debrah expressed concern over continued forest loss driven by agricultural expansion, logging, urbanisation, mining activities, and bushfires. Deforestation reduces Ghana's ability to absorb carbon dioxide while threatening biodiversity and the survival of significant wildlife species and ecosystems. He stressed that protecting biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem resilience and supporting livelihoods.
On waste management, Prof. Debrah observed that rapid population growth and changing consumption patterns were generating increasing volumes of waste, particularly plastics. Plastic pollution was clogging drains, worsening flooding, contaminating water bodies, harming wildlife, and degrading the appearance of communities. However, he noted that many waste materials could be transformed into valuable resources through recycling, composting, circular economy approaches, and waste-to-resource technologies.
Prof. Debrah advocated nature-based solutions as effective and cost-efficient responses to climate and environmental challenges, citing interventions like forest restoration, wetland conservation, agroforestry, mangrove rehabilitation, watershed protection, and urban greening. He emphasised that environmental sustainability could not be achieved by government alone and urged citizens to take individual actions that contribute to national outcomes.
He called on government institutions to strengthen environmental law enforcement, improve urban planning, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, and support ecosystem restoration. Traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, universities, and research institutions also have critical roles to play in environmental protection and sustainable development.
Prof. Debrah reaffirmed UESD's commitment to sustainability through education, research, innovation, and community engagement. As part of activities marking World Environment Day 2026, the university is undertaking awareness campaigns, environmental education programmes, tree-planting exercises, community outreach initiatives, and public engagement activities to promote environmental stewardship and climate resilience. He concluded by stating that the future depends on the actions taken today.