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Minister Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has emphasized the importance of media collaboration in raising awareness about nature crimes in Ghana. He called on the media to work closely with the government and the Ministry of Lands to inform the public about the urgency of addressing these crimes and their detrimental effects.
Speaking at a nature crime workshop organized for journalists by the US Agency for Global Media on September 29, 2023, Mr. Jinapor expressed his passion for educating the general public about the significance of natural resources and biodiversity. He emphasized that creating awareness about the negative consequences of nature crimes on both human lives and the planet is essential and can lead to behavioral changes.
The Lands Minister highlighted the widespread and diverse impacts of nature crimes, underscoring the need to eliminate them as soon as possible. He pointed out that these crimes affect various sectors of the economy, including Land, Forestry, Mining, Environment, Fisheries, Maritime, and Waste Management. Some of the specific crimes mentioned include illegal fishing, illegal mining, illegal logging, illegal overland export, under-declaration of products, mislabelling of products, poaching, wildlife trafficking, illicit wildlife trading, and land degradation.
These crimes, according to Mr. Jinapor, continue to pose serious threats to the environment, biodiversity, and the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. They also deplete the essential resources required for sustainable development. The Minister’s call for media engagement underscores the government’s commitment to addressing these issues and protecting Ghana’s natural heritage.
Source: Omanghana.com
