A civil service organisation (CSO and an advocate for the environment, Eco-Conscious Citizens, has renewed its call on the government to designate the Atewa Forest Reserve as a national park to strengthen the protection of one of the country’s most important forest ecosystems.
It said that although the Atewa Forest had been protected as a forest reserve for more than a century, illegal mining activities now threatened its biodiversity and water resources.
The appeal was made at the launch of the Atewa Matters campaign in Accra.
Organised in collaboration with Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape and GH Extractive and Environment Report, the campaign seeks to mobilise public support for the conservation of the Atewa Forest Reserve.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, said Ghana was on the verge of an ecological crisis due to the continued destruction of its forests.
She linked the recent floods in parts of Accra to environmental degradation, explaining that forests naturally absorb excess rainwater and help reduce flooding.
While acknowledging that the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) had indicated there were no plans to mine bauxite in Atewa within the next 30 years, she said civil society organisations (CSOs) wanted the forest permanently protected through its designation as a national park.
She said the Atewa Forest Reserve is a critical ecological asset, with rivers within its enclave -- the Birim, Ayensu and Densu rivers, supplying water to more than five million Ghanaians, stressing that if it were not protected, it could also impact access to water.
Ms Serwah also appealed to the government to repeal Environmental Instrument (EI) 144, which declassified portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve, arguing that Ghana needed to expand rather than reduce its forest cover.
She urged the public to support the campaign by signing a petition to be presented to the government in September.
Atewa’s importance
The Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh C. A. Brown, acknowledged Atewa’s ecological significance, describing it as a globally significant biodiversity area with unique plant and animal species.
He explained that although the forest was protected because of its rich biodiversity and its role as the source of major rivers, governments were often confronted with the challenge of balancing environmental conservation with economic development.
Dr Brown encouraged civil society organisations to continue advocating for environmental protection, saying public engagement remained essential in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
The Chief of Nmai Dzor, Okpelor Sowah, called for collective action to protect the country’s forests, stressing their importance to livelihoods and future generations.
Also, the Public Relations Officer of the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, Paul Asumaku, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the campaign, while the National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Dr Seth Appiah Kubi, pledged the organisation’s continued support for efforts to conserve Ghana’s forests.
The programme ended with a symbolic tree-planting exercise during which an Atewa tree, sponsored by the Forestry Commission, and 30 additional trees donated by Pippa’s Gym were planted to reaffirm participants’ commitment to environmental conservation.
