The Western Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission (FC), Nana Poku Bosompim, has pledged his commitment to working with stakeholders to clamp down on illegal activities that destroy the region’s forest reserves.
According to him, the Commission would strictly enforce the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 900) without any fear or favour to protect the forest reserves from destruction under illegal circumstances.
Speaking to journalists in an interview, in Takoradi, the Western Regional FC Manager said: “l can pledge zero tolerance for illegal mining and lumbering in our forest reserves as we will strictly enforce the laws without fear or favour… it is irritating seeing our forest being depleted because of the parochial interests of certain people.”
Nana Bosompim issued a stern warning to individuals involved in illegal activities within forest reserves, saying; “If you know you are engaging in illegal mining or logging of trees in a forest reserve, advise yourself and abandon the site.”
Illegal mining , also known as ‘galamsey’ has stripped away fertile soil, which is vital for agriculture, especially in cocoa-growing regions like Ashanti and Western Ghana. The mining often contaminates water sources, which are essential for farming, irrigation, and domestic use. Cocoa is a major export and a critical crop in Ghana. Illegal mining has destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland, and according to the Ghana Cocoa Board, over 19,000 hectares were destroyed by 2021).
Mine shaft collapses and unsafe working conditions have led to accidents and deaths, whereas the use of hazardous chemicals and poor working conditions in unauthorized mining sites has resulted in health issues for workers and nearby communities.
Voicing out his concerns, Nana Bosompim said the FC would do everything in its capacity to sustainably manage the region’s forest and wildlife reserves to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for all.
“My vision is that we leave future
generations and their communities with a much better, richer and more valuable forest and wildlife endowment than even what we came to meet, so we will do everything possible to achieve that,” he stated.
He called for the support of all relevant authorities, including traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and security agencies to help protect the forests from infractions, especially illegal mining activities.
Reporting by Stephen Freeman, Accra.
