Why Lift Ban on DDT?

I was shocked to hear the news that the World Health Organisation(WHO) had lifted the ban on DDT for mosquito control in Africa.

DDT, an Organochlorine insecticide, was banned world-wide some 30 years ago, not only because of the associated hazards to users when carelessly handled, but mainly because of its high toxicity to man and other living organisms and its persistence in the environment which can result in the pollution of water bodies, the soil and the environment at large.

The use of DDT can lead to cancers and other serious illnesses in humans and animals and it is therefore surprising that the WHO which together with the Environment Protection Agency (US-EPA) are advocating the use of DDT again.

The WHO have decided even the less toxic chemicals which fall within the WHO/US-EPA class II (e.g some Carbamates, and Nitroguanidiness) should be phased out by the year 2015, can now see the ban lifted on DDT, a highly toxic class I chemical.

The loss of innocent lives that occurred in Benin in year 2001 caused by the misuse of Endosulfour, as well as the death of a baby elsewhere caused by DDT residue found in a nursing mother,s breast milk, are still fresh on our minds.

For example, the on-going sanitation campaign in Ghana and the use of safer and non-persistent chemicals such as the pyrethtoids, to mention but a few are good alternatives.

I entreat the appropriation authorities in Ghana and, indeed, the whole of Africa to halt this dangerous proposed action before it is too late.


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Parents Appeal To Striking Teachers

The Coalition of Concerned Parent/ Teacher Associations (PTA) in the Greater Accra Region has made a passionate appeal to the government to expedite action on the grievances of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) which have culminated in the industrial action by some teachers.

It has also appealed to the striking teachers to reconsider their position ''for the sake of our children.'' This was contained in a release signed by its acting Chairman, Mr Alexander Yaw Danso, and the association in Accra.

It expressed the coalition's appreciation for hard work which the teachers do, as well as efforts which the government was making to resolve the issue but stated that as concerned parents, the coalition was calling on the teachers to reconsider their position.

The release said considering the fact that final-year senior secondary school students were going to write the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) together with their counterpart from other West African countries, it would be worthwhile for the teachers to rescind their decision.

It expressed regret that students in other West African countries were receiving continous tuition in preparation for their examination, while their counterpart in Ghana were at home.


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Research And National Development

Research has a very powerful impact on Ghana's economy and policy. The successful use of research helps to set public policy base and feedback mechanisms for decision-making.

Some research outputs by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have had dramatic effects on the nation's poverty reduction process. Other types of research have helped improve the climate of ideas influencing policy makers and politicians.

The CSIR, the largest research organisation in Ghana, among other things, undertakes various types of systematic research activities.

These include construction, health, agriculture, forestry, industrial and policy research. Most of the research programmes of the thirteen institutes within the CSIR are officialy sponsored and often donor- financed.

As a fantastic research organisation, the CSIR produces outputs in the form of know how, processes, methods, equipment, products and service for private sector development. The major contributions include pozzolana cement, improved variety of maize, cowpea, rice, soya bean and sorghum.

Others are fufu and kokonte flour, high protein weaning food, chorkor smoker, wood shingle roofing and burnt bricks.

The rest are improved planting materials for Odum, Teak and Wawa, snail farming, liquid soap, plant biogas technology, wood processing machines, soil conservation and land management practices.

It must be emphasised that it is through scientific research that any society can be changed significantly and rapidly. Research could bring about economic improvement.

Research encourages the movement of new methods, ideas and mechanisms to solve problems. Research bring about doing old thing in new and improved ways.

If it is true that developed countries owe their progress partly to technological and scientific progress, then the government should encourage scientific and technological research.

The nation needs to apply science and technology systematically to the agricultural, industrial, health and construction sectors of the economy to raise productivity and increase technical efficiency.

This calls for effective interactions between the government and the CSIR. It needs political recognition to make it play its useful role in society.

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