MiDA Signs Implementing Entity Agreement with Environmental Protection Agency

Accra, 24th July 2008. The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) signed an Implementing Entity Agreement (IEA) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure sound environmental practices in the project activities.

The agreement worth $ 854,816 will cover costs related to issuing of permits and processing fees of MiDA's infrastructure projects, which include highway projects, trunk roads, feeder roads, field trips for screening, categorization and monitoring.

Other activities under the IEA include the Farmer Based Organization (FBO) environmental compliance requirements and field trips for training officials of participating financial institutions under the Agricultural Credit Program.

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of MiDA and Mr. Jonathan Allotey, Executive Director of EPA signed the agreement.

Mr. Eson-Benjamin said the agreement with EPA is to ensure that farming activities are sustainable not only in the commercial sense but remain environmentally sound and profitable.

He explained that under the agreement, EPA will review FBO training materials on agricultural transformation in relation to proper handling and disposal of chemicals, and preparation of manuals for training the staff of financial institutions to enable them to assess the environmental screening checklists that would be submitted by FBOs requesting agricultural credits.

Mr. Eson-Benjamin said potential beneficiaries must respect and meet the Environmental Guidelines in the Agricultural Credit Operation Manual, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, Act 490 of 1994 and the Environmental Assessment Regulations, L.I. 1652 of 1999.

Mr. Allotey noted that dealing with environmental issues needed a critical precaution and emphasized that farmers need to know the right chemicals to use for the farming products that would not cause harm to the health of the population as well as the environment.