Daryl Bosu Writes: 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞!

As galamsey (illegal mining) continues to ravage Ghana’s forests, rivers, and farmlands, one would have expected dedicated and decisive actions by the government to curtail this menace.

Sadly, the government is not interested in that but rather actively stoking the fires with unconscionable forest conversion directives, against public voices of reason.

Instead of focusing on protecting our natural resources, in line with our national commitments and international obligations to climate and biodiversity action, the current government is actively declassifying prime areas of the Achimota Forest, a valuable urban forest in Ghana.

While the government has supposedly committed to greening Ghana through the ‘Green Ghana’ agenda, it has simultaneously opened up forests for mining through Legislative Instrument 2462 and is also currently exploring ways to allow logging in some protected forest reserves in the country.

Despite widespread public outcry and opposition from various state agencies, the government remains adamant about proceeding with the fragmentation and conversion of the Achimota Forest. By their actions, you shall know them.

Now we know that the government’s globe-trotting showmanship, wowing everyone with their commitment to sustainable forest management, was all just for the cameras, with no altruistic motive. It is a shame.

Every Ghanaian and diplomat should demand answers from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. What was the purpose of the annual pomp and pageantry tree-planting exercises undertaken at the Achimota Forest under the guise of restoring it if the same government is now intent on its destruction? It is disheartening to observe that these efforts have been in vain.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬?

Our government can do better. Converting large portions of the only urban forest in the capital city is shameful and unpatriotic, to say the least.