Winneba: Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Former Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has voiced his concerns over Ghana's environmental management, suggesting that the nation is not at a crossroads but rather on a 'roundabout', encountering recurring problems without implementing sustained solutions.
According to Ghana Web, Prof Frimpong-Boateng made these remarks during a keynote lecture at the Fourth Annual Colloquium of the Department of Political Science Education at the University of Education, Winneba. He emphasized that while Ghana has long identified its environmental challenges and developed policies to address them, successive administrations have often failed to maintain these measures.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng argued that the core issue is not a lack of knowledge about environmental issues but rather the country's inability to consistently act on known problems. He likened the situation to a 'roundabout', where decisions and interventions are necessary but often lead back to familiar issues due to a lack of sustained policies and systems.
He pointed out that Ghana's environmental crisis is more of a political problem than a technical one. The country has been aware of threats like environmental degradation, illegal mining, deforestation, and pollution for years. However, the challenge lies in translating this knowledge into sustained political action.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng highlighted the political costs associated with enforcing environmental laws. He noted that these costs fall on the enforcer, whereas the political costs of not enforcing them often go unnoticed. This, he suggested, creates a structural incentive for governments to avoid difficult environmental decisions whose benefits may only become apparent over time.
He also addressed the mismatch between Ghana's political cycle and the time required for environmental policies to produce results. While political administrations operate within short electoral horizons, environmental changes, like those affecting rivers and ecosystems, occur over much longer periods. This can make environmental policies vulnerable to changes in political administration.
Using the example of Ghana's fight against illegal mining, he recalled the establishment of Operation Vanguard in July 2017. This initiative involved military and police personnel and led to measurable improvements, such as reduced turbidity and lower water treatment costs. However, Prof Frimpong-Boateng argued that the gains were not sustained, highlighting a pattern of policy abandonment.
He proposed the establishment of a National Environmental Compact, which would involve negotiations across political parties and ratification by Parliament, to prevent the abandonment of critical environmental commitments. Additionally, he called for personal liability for permits issued on protected areas and annual public State of the Environment audits.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng concluded by stressing the need for stronger accountability and continuity in environmental governance. He urged political leaders to maintain environmental commitments beyond electoral cycles and make decision-makers accountable for the consequences of policy abandonment.