Henry Kokofu granting an interview
The New Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kokofu, has urged staff of the organisation to work hard to portray a positive image of the agency.
He talked of a growing negative perception stemming from the inability of the agency to ensure that regulations made to protect the environment are well enforced.
“I am aware that you do not have a very positive image. Well, the perception is not all that good out there,” he said.
He made the remarks in Accra when he met the regional and area heads of the agency for the first time since taking up the position.
He said the agency which draws its mandate from the Constitution and other sub-legislations has an enormous task with a wide jurisdiction to ensure that issues bordering on the environment were at the apex of national endeavour.
“You cannot tell me that the EPA has rightly positioned itself to champion this cause. Some efforts might have been made, but I think we haven’t reached the apex,” he pointed out.
He said the time had come for staff of the agency to assess the impact of the organisation on national development based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
“There is the need for the renewal of commitment because as citizens we have a mandate to safeguard and protect our environment,” he stressed.
Moving forward, he talked of an ongoing recruitment drive by the government to augment the shortfall of personnel to ensure the agency worked at its optimum.
He, therefore, called on heads of regions to furnish the head office with information on skill set required within the various regions.
He said plans were in place for the promotion of staff welfare which includes the provision of protective clothing and equipment, salary increment, capacity building, among other initiatives.
He made known his intention of paying an unannounced visit to the regions to assess the situation of the workers.
Mr. Kokofu, an environmental lawyer, urged staff to at all times operate within the confines in dealing with the citizenry.
Besides, he pledged to provide a leadership of service with firmness and fairness in all his dealings.
By Issah Mohammed