More than ever, Ghana’s natural resources are in peril. Our forests are been turned to mine pits just because at present the price of mineral ore is all that matters. Nationally gazetted forest reserves are been given out to mining companies without recourse to the priceless ecosystem services and functions they provide.
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Atiwa Range Forest Reserve is currently the latest to come up on the radar. This forest is the headwaters for three major watersheds in Ghana.?The Ayensu, Birim and Densu rivers which emanate from the south-eastern regions of Ghana. The Densu is the source of water for the Weija Dam which supplies Accra and its environment, a population of over 5 million with potable drinking water. Governments past and present have it up for auction to mining companies to turn this magnificent upland ecosystem into a mine pit.
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A Rocha Ghana working with in partnership with several NGOs in a Coalition for NGOs Against Mining in Atiwa (CONAMA) are garnering national and global support to compell the government of Ghana to gazette Atiwa as a National Park and secure it against future plans of turning this unique ecosystem into a mine pit, so it can continue to provide its life supporting functions of water provision and habitat for biodiversity.
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We have prepared a petition in preparation towards an international conference on the?18th and 19th of November?in Accra on Forests and Water Resources. This petition together with the resolution from the conference will be submitted to the Executive and the Legislature to ensure the necessary long-term sustainability actions are put in place in the interest of Atiwa Forest and also for future generations whose lives will depend to a large extent on the ability of our forests like Atiwa, to continue to provide invaluable ecosystem functions and services for mankind.
Daryl Bosu
Northern Sector Manager
A Rocha Ghana
