Prof. Frimpong addresses Journalist after the tour
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng and his deputy Patricia Appiagyei last Thursday paid a working visit to the offices and installations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Accra and Tema.
Addressing staff of the EPA shortly after being conducted round the facilities by the Acting Executive Director, John Pwamang at a durbar, the Deputy Minister Ms Appiagyei, urged them to eschew internal wrangling and focus on achieving the goals.
“I enjoin you as a great national institution and asset to re-examine what you do, how you do what you do and re-invent the wheels a bit if that will help achieve the SDG goals,” she stated.
Ms. Appiagyei, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, questioned why the environment and water bodies were being degraded all in the name of modernization despite the existence of a vibrant institution such as EPA.
In a strong-worded message, she charged them to rethink their mandate and adopt a more pragmatic approach to discharging their duties.
“Devise new strategies to fight agents working against your smooth operations and make Ghanaians appreciate your services.
The Acting Executive Director, in his welcome address, stated that the EPA would institute a number of measures to ensure that Ghanaians gain access to quality services.
He appealed to government to reconsider its decision of taking 34 percent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) since the institution has been weaned off government subversion.
At the Accra East Office of the EPA located at Tema, Irene Opoku, Branch Manager, conducted the two ministers and senior staff from Headquarters round the newly constructed four-storey office complex.
According to Ms Opoku, the complex, which would serve as a Field Operations office and has a number of laboratories, would be used to examine various chemicals being imported into the country.
Prof Frimpong Boateng lauded the management of the EPA for the successful completion of the Field Operations Office.
He reiterated government’s intention to discourage to use of chemical fertilizers and other chemicals, which have been found to be harmful to the environment and other creatures, adding that the intention is to encourage the use of organic manures.
By Solomon Ofori