FIABCI GREPA GHANA ENVIRONMENTAL PRESENTATION

Ghana’s EnvironmentRediscovering the Link between

Success & Respecting the Natural World

Presented ByVicky Sampah- MBA, MSRE, GRI, ABR,

e-PROFounder - Ghana Real Estate Professionals

Association – GREPA

CEO - ABRI Properties Ghana

FIABCI-USA San Francisco 2013

By Vicky Sampah, MBA, MSRE, ABR, GRI, e-PRO Ghana Real Estate Professionals Association - GREPA 2

Societies can become more environmentally sustainable

through economic development dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone

without degrading the earth’s life-support systems.

Ghana in Africa• Ghana is located on the Gulf of

Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Africa Frontier of Sub-Saharan Africa.

• A Western African countrybordered on the East by the Republic of Togo, the West by Cote d’Ivoire, the North by Burkina Faso and the South by the Gulf of Guinea.

• The Country lies between longitudes 3° 15’ W and 1° 12’ E, and latitude 4° 44’and 11° 15’ N.

• A total land area of Ghana is 238,533 km2

• A coastline of 550km2

3By Vicky Sampah, MBA, MSRE, ABR, GRI, e-PRO Ghana Real Estate Professionals Association - GREPA

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Insert a map of your country.

General weather conditions

• Tropical humid climatic conditions with two major seasons

• Minimum temperature ranges from 21°C - 23°C and maximum temperature is from 30°C - 35°C

4By Vicky Sampah, MBA, MSRE, ABR, GRI, e-PRO

Ghana Real Estate Professionals Association - GREPA

Presenter

Presentation Notes


Resources

• Ghana has rich and diverse natural resources

• Gold• Cocoa• Manganese• Bauxite• Diamond• Oil



Ghana Cocoa

Chocolate

Presenter

Presentation Notes


The Gold Coast• Called the GOLD COAST• The first country in sub-

saharan Africa to gain independence – 1957

• The discovery of oil – the Jubilee field. Systematic and sustained efforts leads to the discovery of oil in 2007

• Valve opened to commence production from the Jubilee Oil Field in December 2010

• New found oil in Ghana is going to be a Bonanza’ Chris Jackson, World Bank

• Population is growing and expectation of the international community will also grow

• Strong Economic growth –13.5% IMF , 2011 reflecting the start of the oil and an indication of a robust performance of the non oil sector

• Ghana is no more a low income country. Ghana has moved into a middle income country



Jubilee Field


Oil Fields in Ghana

Late President of Ghana, commissioning the field to start operations

Reserves and Parks• Ghana is rich in biodiversity.

• wide variety of birds, reptiles and animals with unique habitats, and a wide range of plants and flowers

• Rare plants, flowers and animal species

• the leopard and golden cat are rare carnivores; the rufus fishing owl and white-breasted guinea fowl are endangered birds while the giant butterfly Papiliomaesseni are found only in the Likpe area of Volta Region.

• Major tourist attractions includes the Kakum, Bia, and Mole national parks; the PagaCrocodile Pond; beautiful beaches, forts, and castles; and many other important national heritage sites.


Kakum

Mole

Population increase• Ghana had a population of about 12.4 million in

1984. This figure increased to 18.8 million in 2000, 24 million in 2010 and 25.37 million in 2012 recorded by the world bank and reflecting an intercensai growth rate of 2.6 percent

• It is suspected to have increased to 27 million.


Factors contributing to increase• Life expectancy at birth has improved from 45 years in 1984

to 55 years in 2000 • About 37.4 percent of the population live in urban areas as

against 32 percent in 1984.• The country has attained middle income status in 2011• Robust economic growth of 8 percent, strong democratic

institutions, and favourable prospects for oil and gas, Ghana is attracting significant foreign direct investment increasing population

• Poverty has decreased• Improved school enrolment • Discovery of wealth has increase foreign investments and

human capital.


Outlook on ReturnsAfrican equity market returns have outperformed those of other

emerging market regions between October 2012 and October2013, boosting the investment allure of the continent.

African equity markets outperformed the likes of LatinAmerica (4.2%), emerging Europe (5.7%) and emerging AsiaPacific (9.3%).

These impressive returns were led by Ghana (115%),Kenya (58.2%), Cote d’Ivoire (46.5%), Nigeria (38.7%),Uganda (31.7%) and Zambia (30.8%), while the world globalaverage was at 19.4%.


IMF Concerns

‘Continued success will depend on strong political will to decisively confront Ghana’s short-term vulnerabilities’ the IMF said in its regular review of the West African nation’s economy.


The State of the Environment• Similar to developed countries, emissions from

point sources such as vehicles and industries tend to create atmospheric pollutants within their immediate environments.

• Urbanization coupled with Industrialization is causing a depletion of forest in the country

• Biodiversity is gradually being depleted due to a variety of factors. Prominent among them are poaching, habitat loss and deforestation

• Mining activities have also destroyed• There is fear that the rate of deforestation will

offset net CO2 removal as forests, which serve as sink for excess CO2, are being depleted.


The State of the Environment

• It is estimated that over 90 percent of Ghana’s high forest have been logged since the late 1940s

• The current deforestation rate is about 22,000 hectares (ha) per annum. Ghana, therefore, may face future export deficits and there is the likelihood that the country’s forestry sector will die out.

• Ghana is not under water stress, however, there is a serious problem of uneven distribution of water, leading to perennial water shortages in many parts of the country, especially during the dry season. Inadequate industrial and domestic wastewater management has resulted in the pollution of most surface water resources in the country. Prominent among these are the rivers that flow through urban areas.


The State of the Environment• Agricultural land availability has reduced from 1.56ha in

1970 to 1.11ha in 1984 to 0.74ha in 2000. This shows that there has been pressure on the country’s land resources over the past three decades. The pressure on land available in urban areas is largely due to rural-urban migration.

• The coastal zone of the country is under intense pressure due to high concentration of human activities within the zone. The major industries in the country are located within the zone. Marine fishing serves as a source of livelihood for the majority of the people living along the coast which makes erosion eminent.

• Most Foreign Investors prefer the coastal major towns namely; Accra, Tema and Takoradi with sea and air ports.

• Illiteracy coupled with lack of awareness of environmental issues and legislation has also contributed immensely to environmental problems in the country.



Mining Activities

Threats to Ghana’s Environment


Mining Activities destroying land in Ghana



Lumber Industriesdestroying land in Ghana



Poor Water and Solid waste management



Oil leakThe cyanide spillage caused by Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL) in 2001


Efforts to control

Many institutions for regulating the environment were established after 1990 including, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission and Energy Commission. Nongovernmental organization activity has also increased, with the implementation of many programmes.


COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

Ghana has a long history of attempting to safeguard the environment from being abused by enacting and including environmental protection in appropriate legislationThe best result from all of these attempts is the establishment of an organisation solely responsible for the environment – the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deriving its administrative procedures through a legislative instrument LI 1652, an Act of Parliament of Ghana


COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

• Guidelines for new developments• Compliance through partnerships with State agencies. For

instance The Energy Commission is the state institution responsible for ensuring that investment in the energy sector is properly controlled. The Commission is therefore responsible for licensing all investors in the energy sector and for regulation

• Thus investment in the energy sector means compliance with LI 1652 and its parent Act. of their activities thereafter.


CONCLUSION Just as any other country, the future of Ghana’s

environment is thus not gloomy

• Government will have to make the environment one of the national priority areas

• Constantly reviewing existing environmental laws and enacting new legislation to reflect current and global trends

• Training and technical support from the international communities for regulating the environment.

To ensure adequate allocation of resources for capacity building and utilisation in environmental management.


GREPA on EnvironmentOne important Area that has been overlooked in

Ghana when it comes to environmental concerns is within the Housing industries.

Ghana has problems with water ingress and this is causing damage to properties and poses a health threat to Residents.

Properties with water ingress result in mold which is very dangerous.

As this area has not been addressed, the Ghana Real Estate Professionals Association GREPA will take the opportunity to address the issue


GREPA on Environment

Through the following steps• Research into the Problem• Mold, Radon Asbestos Awareness programs• Mold mitigation and irradiation programs• Technical advice to builders to prevent water

ingress from foundation• Public awareness• Advice for policy makers to include testing on all

properties.


International Support

PLEASE SUPPORT GREPA ACHIEVE THIS

GOAL


Contacts

Ghana Real Estate Professionals Association – GREPA

The ABRI Foundation

US: +1630.923.3223 Fax: +1866.886.8432

GHANA: +233.26.957.4186 Fax: +233.302‐52‐1805

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]
