Ghana: Advocates Urge Fast-Track Atewa Range Forest National Park Status

• Environmental groups are urging the Ghanaian government to fast-track the Atewa Range Forest Reserve's conversion into a national park.
• Illegal mining, using pickaxes and 'one-leg' machines, is increasingly encroaching on the forest, posing a severe threat to its ecological balance.
• A Rocha Ghana's Deputy National Director, Mr. Daryl Bosu, emphasizes the need for community involvement and economic benefits in the park conversion process.
• Proposed solutions include a permanent security task force, increased resources for the Forestry Commission, and prompt prosecution of illegal miners.
• The government is called upon to ensure a transparent and inclusive national park establishment process, distinguishing between the Atewa Range Forest and its extension.

The government currently has a significant opportunity to intervene decisively and implement robust measures before the environmental situation deteriorates further, thereby safeguarding this invaluable natural heritage for future generations.

Ghanaian environmental advocates are intensifying calls for the government to expedite the process of converting the Atewa Range Forest Reserve into a national park. This urgent appeal stems from growing concerns over illegal mining activities that are increasingly encroaching upon the nation's vital forest reserves, thereby jeopardizing natural resources crucial for both local communities and the country's overall well-being.

Mr. Daryl Bosu, the Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, has been a prominent voice in this advocacy, urging immediate governmental action to secure national park status for the Atewa Range Forest. He stresses that any such conversion must be inclusive, actively involving communities residing near the forest and other pertinent stakeholders. This approach is deemed essential to ensure that local populations have a vested interest in the forest's preservation and can derive legitimate economic benefits from its continued integrity.

According to Mr. Bosu, the Atewa Forest possesses substantial potential to generate significant economic advantages for both the surrounding communities and Ghana as a whole, provided it is adequately protected and managed. This perspective is echoed by The Ghanaian Times, which views the current situation as a critical opportunity that the nation cannot afford to miss.

The urgency surrounding the Atewa Range Forest's protection is significantly heightened by the escalating threat of illegal mining, locally known as 'galamsey'. Mr. Bosu has highlighted a concerning trend where illegal miners are now frequently entering forest reserves equipped with pickaxes and 'one-leg' machines, rather than the larger excavators typically associated with such operations. Despite the seemingly less destructive nature of this equipment, he cautions that the resulting environmental damage can be equally devastating.

The destruction inflicted upon a forest cannot be solely measured by the machinery employed. Once trees are cleared, the soil is disturbed, and the delicate ecological balance is disrupted, the process of restoring the affected area becomes exceedingly difficult. Compounding this challenge is the observation that illegal mining has now surpassed logging as the primary threat to these reserves, with some individuals who previously engaged in logging reportedly shifting their activities to mining.

In response to these pervasive threats, several key measures have been proposed to bolster the protection of the Atewa Range Forest. These include the establishment of a permanent and adequately resourced joint security task force dedicated to the reserve. Furthermore, there is a strong demand for the Forestry Commission Ghana to be equipped with the necessary logistics and personnel to effectively safeguard the area.

Beyond increased security presence, enforcement efforts must also encompass the prompt prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in illegal mining. It is also crucial to investigate reported information leakages and address concerns regarding selective enforcement. Concurrently, the government is urged to ensure that the process of establishing the national park is both transparent and inclusive, making a clear distinction that the proposed conversion applies specifically to the Atewa Range Forest, not the Atewa Extension. Proper engagement with communities and relevant stakeholders throughout this process is paramount.

Mrs. Awula Serwaa, Founder of EcoConscious Citizens, advocates for the development of home-grown solutions to combat illegal mining. While acknowledging the utility of international cooperation, such as the recent agreement between Ghana and China on a galamsey strategy, she emphasizes that Ghana must ultimately assume responsibility for the protection of its own forests and natural resources.

The Atewa Range Forest stands as a critical natural asset, and its current predicament underscores a pivotal moment for Ghana's environmental protection efforts. The ongoing encroachment by illegal mining operations threatens not only the immediate ecological integrity of the forest but also the long-term sustainability of resources vital for communities and the nation.

There is a stark warning that Atewa should not become another instance where the true value of a natural resource is only fully recognized after it has suffered severe and irreversible damage. The government currently has a significant opportunity to intervene decisively and implement robust measures before the environmental situation deteriorates further, thereby safeguarding this invaluable natural heritage for future generations.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the fast-tracking of Atewa Range Forest's national park status for new environmental designations, increased enforcement against illegal mining, and potential impacts on land use and resource extraction projects in Ghana, particularly concerning community engagement and compliance risks for clients operating in or near the region.

Source: Original reporting via The Ghanaian Times