A research scientist at the Water Research Institute (WRI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mr Samuel Obiri Yeboah, has reiterated that uncontrolled human activities can worsen climate change and accelerate green house effects in the country. “Climate change is real and Ghana must take urgent measures to mitigate it effect and also adapt," he said, in an interview this week. Mr Yeboah pointed out that as a result of the exploitation of timber, most trees were being felled, making the environment bare. "Mining activities also contribute to climate" change apart from polluting the air and water bodies with chemicals," the research scientist said,” adding that, the upsurge of mining activities in the Western and Ashanti Regions had caused the removal of the vegetative cover in many areas and contributed to climate change. The carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere as a result of gold 'production has led to increased hot conditions in the Tarkwa and Obuasi areas. "Even so, the conditions for the rains are also affected," he said. "The idea of giving out forest reserves, for example, at Yankoba at Buipe for limestone production, and government policy of allocating two percent of Ghana's forest reserves for mining operations have had serious consequences on climate change," he said. The other thing is at our refusal to ban overaged vehicles in the country is also contributing to ozone depletion," adding "that's why we have hot weather conditions these days." In order to mitigate the climate change and green house effect, he said that the country needs to adopt new strategies of farming, such as the planting of fast maturing crops and embarking on vigorous afforestation programmes. The research scientist said, "we also need to protect our virgin forest against exploitation. With this, we can maximize conditions to mitigate climate change." According to Mr Yeboah, the country should encourage people to design and build well-ventilated houses. He said that, if serious efforts are "not taken to mitigate climate change, the country may experience what he termed as "storms." Most world leaders in the United States and, United Kingdom, Mr Yeboah said, had branded complaints against mining and climate change as "alarmist" but said that "it should not be business as usual. "Illegal mining, poor leadership at local and national levels are our bane. But we need to tell the truth that climate change is real,” he said. He said that because of the business interest of some people they de not see evil at all in the society. Source: Times