Advocacy Groups call for an upgrade of Atewa Forest into a National Park Status

 Image result for atewa forest



THREE environmental advocacy groups have urged the government to come up with a strategic plan towards the upgrade of the Atewa Range Forest in the Eastern Region into a national park status.

The groups, A Rocha Ghana, Ghana Wildlife Society, and the Concerned Citizens of Atewa were unanimous in their justification that an upgrade of the forest would ensure a long-term security of it and sustainably provide efficient public goods and services to the people.

At the opening of four-day exhibition organised by A Rocha Ghana in Accra today to showcase the unique features of the Atewa Forest, the groups maintained their dissatisfaction against government's decision to mine bauxite in the forest.

In July 2018, the government in the mid-year budget review, announced a $2 billion deal with a Chinese engineering firm, Sinohydro Group Limited, to fund infrastructure projects by the government.

Sinohydro Group Limited of China, according to reports, would provide $2 billion of infrastructure of the government's choice in exchange for Ghana's refined bauxite, which was to be mined in the Atewa Forest.

Cost analysis
According to the National Director of the A Rocha Ghana, Mr Seth Appiah Kubi, a cost analysis conducted on the elevation of the Atewa Forest into a national park with a buffer zone around it had shown a far reaching economic value in the long term than the revenue to be generated from the mining of bauxite.

“We are mindful of the need for economic development of our country. But we are also equally mindful that safeguarding our ecosystem and the natural environment in general are key elements in achieving sustainable development for any country,” he stated.

For his part, the Executive Director of the Ghana Wildlife Society, Mr Eric Lartey stated that in spite of the potential mining of bauxite, the forest had over the years been depleted by illegal mining activities, afforestation, bush meat hunting, among other malpractices.

He said the forest was a source of water to over 5 million Ghanaians among other life-supporting benefits and cautioned that if the necessary action was not taken to safeguard it, “we are going to be water stressed in future.”

Nonetheless, a leading member of the Concerned Citizens of Atewa, Dr Francis Amo expressed worry that since the campaign for the protection of the Atewa Forest commenced in 2013, successive governments had not expressed interest in their call.

He therefore, urged the government to break silence on the matter to enable them to know the status of the forest as part of their advocacy agenda.

Exhibition
The Exhibition, on the theme: “Securing Atewa for prosperity and wellbeing beyond today” formed part of the campaign to protect the forest by galvanising public support to strengthen the advocacy.
It provided opportunity for scores of Ghanaians including students, traditional leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps to appreciate the components of the forest and the need for the country to prioritise its security.
Some of rich and unique features of the forest including varied species of plants, birds, mammals, insects, and amphibians were set on display for the appreciation of the observers.

Atewa Forest
The Atewa Forest, found in the Eastern Region, is the source of the Densu River, which feeds the Weija Dam and several water treatment plants.
It is also the source of two other important rivers; the Birim and Ayensu, which together provides water to at least 5 million people in Greater Accra, Eastern Region and the Central Region of Ghana.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ACCRA MEDICINE PEDDLERS NOW SELL PRESCRITION-ONLY MEDICINES

Image
A medicine peddler plying his trade along the Accra rail way lines PEDDLERS of medicine are doing brisk business in some markets and lorry parks in Accra, selling medicines that even chemical sellers by law are not permitted to dispense. Eddies Dailies has observed that the activity is prevalent in the Kaneshie, Agbobloshie, Makola, Kantamanto and Okaishie markets and some lorry parks and streets in the capital, including the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange area and the Tema Station. The peddlers sell medicines such as Tramadol, Cytotec, Dexacorten, painkillers, steroids, multivitamins, aphrodisiacs, butt enlargement pills, among others, that are packaged in transparent plastic bags and carried around in baskets. Some of the drugs, such as Tramadol, Dexacorten and Cytotec, fall under the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA’s) category of medicines that are to be sold on prescription. Aside from that, the peddling of medicine contravenes Section 110 of the Health Profes...
Read more

CHOKED DRAINS CAUSES SPILLAGE OF WASTE WATER ON KANESHIE-ODORKOR ROAD

Image
THE blockage of drains on the Kaneshie-Odokor-Malam stretch, largely due to the irresponsible disposal of waste into them has resulted in a heavy spillage of waste water onto the outer lanes of the road. The underground drains stretching between the Darkuman junction and the Odorkor traffic light had been clogged with silt, hence, forcing the running water to gush out from the various silt-traps chambers onto the dual carriage. To compound to problem, an unpleasant stench emanated from the spilled water, a situation which exposed motorists and pedestrians to lung-related ailments and other discomforts. The problem has been identified as a root cause to the perennial flooding of the area. The problem The dual carriage has an in-built single cell pipe culvert of 1.2 meters. It consists of chambers constructed at every 30-50 meters to serve as entry points for smaller drains usually connected from homes, offices, and other sources. As part of mechanisms ...
Read more

Open Defecation at LEKMA Southern Cluster of Schools

Image
Pupils at the LEKMA Southern Cluster of Schools located at Teshie in the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipality defecate openly on the school’s compound while five toilet facilities in the schools are locked. Information pieced together by Eddie's Dailies, indicate that the facilities, four of which were renovated and one newly constructed, await inauguration before the pupils are allowed to access them. It was gathered that the project officially commenced in 2016 under the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project and supervised by the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (LeKMA). It consist of two 12-seater W/C, two 10-seater W/C, and the newly constructed four-seater W/C. It was also gathered that work on the rehabilitation of the facilities stalled for more than a year but resumed in 2017 during which the pupils were restrained from using the facility. Following the long wait, the pupils, most of whom are in kindergarten and lower primary, resort to emptying their bo...
Read more