The new Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse has shared the good news of her appointment to her constituents in Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese in the Central Region in a colorful visit to the Abura State Palace in Abakrampa.

Visitation of the new EPA boss to the Palace on Friday, January 24, 2025, was to officially announce her appointment to traditional leaders of the area to render her warm appreciation for their consistent counselling and unwavering support shown her over the years.

Her visit was well embraced with an enormous delegation of past and present party executives and members of the National Democratic Congress in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese Constituency.

Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse who emerges the first Ghanaian female Physics Professor at the palace, took time to elaborate the job description of EPA, coupled with her commitment to work assiduously to have Ghana attain a clean, conducive and hygienic environment to live in.

She relayed her outfit's readiness to see to an effective waste management with a clean water to drink, a hygienic environment for farm produce by farmers and a healthy yard for traders to sell through efficient regulating of work by various Ministries.

The EPA boss further touched on the rampant illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the country and its soaring effect on the citizenry and the practical measures EPA intends to undertake to address the issue of galamsey in Ghana.

Speaking on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Emintsinminim Otu XI, the Abura Omanhene, Nana Yamfo Kwegyir XI, Dontsenhene of Abura State congratulated Prof. Brown Klutse on her EPA appointment, describing her new role as a refreshing news to the paramountcy following her hard work, expertise, and commitment to environmental protection.

He, however, required of the support of the new EPA CEO to investigate the matter of the Kakum National Park, claiming that despite Abura owning the largest portion of the reserve, the community's state has been overlooked, whereas the Cape Coast Traditional Council and other traditional councils which have little or no stake in the reserve, erroneously recognize as owners of the reserve. 

The Abura Traditional Council appealed on Prof. Klutse to look into the revenue generated by the Kakum National Park and the Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust and ensure that Abura State receives the recognition and compensation it deserves as the largest holder of the forest reserve.

The Traditional Council equally brought the attention of the Abura Forest Reserve (Okruwa Forest) which rightfully belongs to the Abura State but is currently under the control of the Assin Attendanso Traditional Council, which receives substantial revenue from the forest to bare. 

Nana Yamfo Kwegyir XI in the address urged the EPA boss to probe into the matter and assist Abura State in reclaiming its rightful ownership and seek her support in protecting all other forests within the paramountcy, ensuring their sustainable management and conservation for future generations.

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan