Environmental pollution is the discharge of material or contaminants that are unsafe to the atmosphere or human health into the environment.
Pollution puts the lives of humans and other living things on earth into danger. Generally, there are 4 basic types of pollution in Ghana, i.e. air pollution, water pollution, land /soil pollution and noise pollution. Pollution in Ghana have increased the number of cases of the following diseases such as dysentery, cholera, heart diseases, asthma and lung infections in our hospitals.
This essay seeks to discuss briefly the major causes and effect of environmental pollution and propose potential solutions to solving this issue.
The most identified causes of environmental pollution in Ghana are as follows;
To begin with, as the needs of humans become more and more complex, so did the type of industries that produce goods to satisfy those needs. Industries in Ghana are part of the major causes of environmental pollution in Ghana.
Smoke from these industrial companies like Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Tema Steel works, plastic manufacturing companies in Accra (North Kaneshie), GRIDco, Volta River Authority and the like produce large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere causing respiratory diseases to residents.
Likewise large-scale industries in Ghana like those that produce textiles and building materials also emit a lot of poisonous gases into the atmosphere as waste, and leave the air polluted.
Another facet of the problem that industries posed to the environment, the now fast-paced human world has brought about the need for faster transport and so has abandoned the use of animals as a means of transport since it cannot satisfy the needs of the people especially in urban centers like Accra. In these parts especially where traffic is more intense, fumes from cars are released even more and pollute the air. Then there are airplanes and other mechanically run transport machines that were also developed and are upgraded periodically resulting in even higher levels of pollution.
Some farm cultures practiced by our farmer also contribute greatly to the pollution of the environment. The need to produce more crops to feed the ever increasing population of the country brought about the need for the use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, to protect the produce from pests like the fall army worm and make harvests more bountiful. However, more harm than good has been done in the process, as remnants of these substances degrade the soil and rid it of some important nutrients.
Again, the need for intensive farming to feed the Ghanaian population has led to the destruction of virgin forests to make way for farmlands and larger plantations, this in some way has caused an upset in the ecosystem.
Industries that also specialize in the production of goods for human consumption, like water production where plastic bottles and bags are used, are more concerned about their profits and not about the effects their packages have on the environment. And so buying and selling of these products, packaged with materials that are not bio-degradable results in heaps of plastic waste that pollute water bodies and lie idle in even landfill sites because they do not degrade easily. Ghana also lacks recycling facilities that could have kept this problem in check.
Residential areas in the country also contribute to the degradation of the environment; forest and plants are again destroyed so houses and apartments can be built for different families. Some wildlife lose their habitats in the process and go extinct even. The use of construction materials such as cement in the soil also hinder the growth of plants in the soil and kill living organisms in the soil completely.
People in their houses also produce different types of waste on a daily basis, from plastic bags from shopping which they do not discard of in the best way, to human waste in homes without toilets, which is a major problem in the country’s capital at the moment.
Additionally, littering and dumping of refuse into gutters and allowing raw sewage to run into lakes or streams also pollutes the environment. Polluted water poses a number of health problems. In places like Odornaa, korle lagoon and Chorkor in Accra, it is difficult to breath in these areas due to the stench emitting from the polluted gutters.
Water-borne pathogens also cause diseases such as typhoid, fever, cholera, and hepatitis. Mostly, the point infection is through drinking or swimming the contaminated water.
Another major cause of environmental pollution is Illegal mining- there is no qualm that illegal mining have caused a great harm to our environment in Ghana. Dust from mining sites pollutes the air and also water bodies are destroyed due to the activities of the miners. . Toxic chemicals such as mercury that have long-term health effects on societies for generations are released into these water bodies.
Lastly on the causes is noise from nightclub and pub operators – In as much as the government putting in much effort in developing Accra, the issue of noise pollution is still on the rise. Noise pollution is caused by the noise from manufacturing companies, noise from construction sites, clubs, heavy trucks and places where the population is dense like the Kaneshie market or Makola market both in Accra.
In places like Circle, Lapaz, Osu and Fadama where there are chain of pubs and nightclubs, workers barely sleep soundly at night as operators of the mentioned facilities increase the volumes of their speakers.
All the above-discussed causes have adverse effects on the environment, health of the people and also on the economy of the country. Stated below are other harmful effects of environmental pollution;
• Ghana loses millions of Cedis annually to combat poor sanitation problems in the country.
• Dust from mining and construction site contaminate the air causing air borne diseases.
• Gutters chocked with plastic materials and other waste produce unpleasant smell making living in such areas unbearable.
• Depletion of the ozone layer due to the introduction of harmful ozone layer is chemicals into the atmosphere.
• Health problems caused by noise pollution are stress, poor concentration, fatigue from lack of sleep, and to more serious issues such as cardiovascular disease.
• Soil erosion due to deforestation
• High rate of death and injuries of the youth at illegal mining sites.
However the situation can be controlled through the following ways;
• Education on the harmful of pollution- NGOs together with the environmental protection agency must educate Ghanaians on the harmful effects of pollution on the society and on their health.
• Practicing reuse and recycling- plastic items that hardly decompose must be reuse or recycled. Example, the use of sachet water rubbers for plastic chairs and buckets.
• Carpooling – This is the arrangement made between a group of people who usually lives in the same neighborhood going in the same direction to use one car instead of numerous cars. This practice reduce the number of cars on our roads hence reducing the amount of harmful substance released into the atmosphere through the exhaust pipes.
• Cover crops – Farmers in Ghana also have a role to play to prevent water pollution. They have to plant cover crops such as grasses, grains or cloves to help reduce the run off that causes soil erosion during heavy rainfall.
• Afforestation after deforestation.
• EPA setting rules against improper waste disposal by industries.
• Implementation of laws against noise making.
• Creating of job opportunities -the government must create employment opportunities within districts and towns for habitants to help the youth employed and help them earn a living. This way they are not urged to engage in practices such as illegal mining, which does not promote or help in building a better nation.