A recent assessment conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in parts of Accra had revealed high level of lead in the blood of residents. This, according to the executive director of the EPA, Mr. J.A. Allotey, was the result of vehicular emissions of unacceptable high level of lead in the city.
He noted that ?the growth of motorized transport, urban congestion, old and poorly maintained vehicles in the country would continue to contribute to the already deteriorated situation. Mr. Allotey said carbon dioxide emission from road transport accounted for about 60 per cent of the total greenhouse emissions from the energy sector in the country. He added that even though Ghana?s total contribution to global greenhouse gas emission was insignificant, its impact on climate change on our economy could be catastrophic.
Mr. Allotey expressed the hope that the result from the project would allow the country to have a clear picture of the problem and strengthen our hands to develop pragmatic policies and measures to address the problem. He explained that the problem could be addressed through phasing out fuel that contained heavy metals from the refinery, improve on vehicular inspection schemes and maintenance culture and finally develop relevant legislative framework to control exhaust emissions. The chief director of the ministry of environment and science, Mr. Edward Osei Nsenkyere said there was the need for the country to place itself within the global community by ensuring not only democratic governance but good environmental stewardship also.
Source: GhanaWeb
