A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto Committee, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has pledged transformative environmental policies under the next NPP administration.

Speaking on the party’s vision for the environment at the JoyNews manifesto debate on Thursday, November 21, Dr Kokofu acknowledged the challenges facing Ghana’s forests, water resources, and environmental quality despite efforts made during the Akufo-Addo government.

He noted that the current administration has implemented integrated recycling and composting initiatives as part of its environmental action plan, but challenges persist, adding that to address these challenges, the NPP intends to roll out bold solutions to complement existing policies.

“Our next administration will prioritise the enforcement of environmental standards and compliance across all sectors, ensuring a safer, greener, and cleaner environment,” Dr Kokofu stated.

Reviving Water Bodies and Forests

Dr Kokofu, a former Executive Director of Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighted the degradation of water bodies as a critical concern assuring Ghanaians that the next government would implement robust rehabilitation and restoration efforts, including desilting water bodies and planting trees along waterways.

“This will not just be an environmental effort but also a business opportunity. The private sector will be encouraged to actively participate in restoring degraded areas,” he added.

In protecting water resources, he noted that the NPP plans to enforce water-use regulations, strengthen the water buffer zone policy, and protect trans-border resources like the Volta River.

Dr Kokofu also touched on the importance of effectively managing water basins to secure both surface and underground water sources.

These measures, he says, align with the party’s broader commitment to Ghana’s Climate Change Policy Master Plan, which focuses on environmental resilience and sustainable resource management.

Dr Kokofu’s remarks come at a time when political leaders across Ghana are being called upon to offer actionable and measurable plans for addressing systemic environmental issues—issues at the heart of the nation’s development and resilience.