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The former Member of Parliament for Bantama in the Ashanti region, and now Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has recounted the success stories of his outfit since he took over as the head of the nation’s primary regulatory body of the environment.
According to him, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under his leadership has formed many international alliances in furtherance of Ghana’s climate mitigation and adaption interests.
Dr. Kokofu made this revelation when he paid a working visit the headquarters of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) in Accra as part of Party-Government engagement initiated by the current executives of the party to bring the two together for purpose of healthy relation for a common goal.
The EPA Boss said, during the recently held Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the Paris Climate Agreement in Egypt, it was strongly advocated for rich industrial countries to bear the cost of climate induced disasters and disruptions to the local economies of developing countries. This, he intimated, bears the potential to attract international donor funding for Ghana’s climate adaptation and mitigation interventions.
Hon. Dr. Kokofu also disclosed that the EPA and the government of Ghana have relentlessly sought to make Ghana, a leader in global environmental concerns, culminating in Ghana assuming the Presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), an association of 55 of the most climate threatened countries in 2022. He further noted that upon assumption of office, he has pursued a robust recruitment drive to shore-up the staff strength of the Agency, which he said, has improved its operational efficiencies.
Commenting on the menace of illegal small scale mining in the country, Hon. Kokofu asserted that while the laws of the country do not prohibit mining, it is incumbent on all miners to adhere to safe environmental practices to sustain the country’s natural environment. He hinted that plans are far advanced to make the Environmental Protection Agency an Authority, a development that would make his outfit the first to issue permits for all activities related to the environment. This he noted, would contribute to the Agency’s effectiveness in pursuing its mandate of safeguarding the environment.
In his welcome address, Mr. Stephen Ayesu Ntim, the National Chairman of the Party explained the need for a strong and effective collaboration between various stakeholders of the party and government appointees for unity and cooperation as the Party seeks to make history by breaking the eight-year cycle of governance by winning the 2024 general elections.
Executives present to welcome the EPA Boss were Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary; Alhaji Masawudu Osman, National Third Vice Chairperson; Madam Kate Gyamfua, National Women Organiser; Dr. Antoinette Tsibu Darko, Deputy General Secretary; and Mr. Haruna Mohammed, Deputy General Secretary.
Others were Mr. Joseph Kwayaja, Deputy National Organiser; Mr. Isaac Jay Nii Amahtey Hyde, Deputy National Youth Organiser; Miss Sandra Sarkodee-Addo, Deputy National Youth Organiser, Miss Miriam Awurama Duah, Deputy National Women Organiser, Miss Safia Mohammed, Deputy National Women Organiser; Mr. William Yamoah, Director for Finance and Administration; Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, Director of Communications and Mr. Ernest Owusu-Kumih, Director in charge of Research.
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