- Okyenhene raises alarm over illegal logging, galamsey, and water pollution
- Warning issued at the launch of Atiwa Centenary Celebration and GAFFES
- Galamsey cited as a major threat to the Atiwa Forest ecosystem and livelihoods
The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, has issued a renewed warning about the worsening state of Ghana’s environment, cautioning that illegal logging, galamsey operations, and the pollution of water bodies threaten the nation’s future.
He made the remarks at the launch of the Atiwa Centenary Celebration and the Green Atiwa Forest Festival (GAFFES) in Akyem Kyebi in the Eastern Region. The event commemorated 100 years of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, one of Ghana’s most vital biodiversity areas and a globally recognised Important Bird Area.
Addressing chiefs, opinion leaders, and government officials, the Okyenhene called on traditional authorities, policymakers, and local communities to collaborate in addressing environmental destruction, with particular emphasis on illegal mining in the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
He noted that galamsey activities are severely damaging the forest ecosystem, polluting rivers and streams, and threatening livelihoods that rely on clean water and a healthy environment.
According to him, the challenge requires strong political commitment, effective enforcement of regulations, and the provision of sustainable livelihood alternatives for communities dependent on environmentally destructive practices. Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II warned that inaction could result in irreversible consequences, including biodiversity loss, deforestation, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, with far-reaching effects on both present and future generations.
Also speaking at the event, the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, urged Ghanaians to take both personal and collective responsibility for safeguarding the environment, water bodies, and forest reserves.
She described deforestation as a selfish act that threatens human survival, stressing that global ecosystems are interconnected and that damage to one affects all.
“It is very selfish to cut down trees or destroy any part of the ecological system,” she said. “We must protect these trees for generations to come and think beyond our own interests.”
Other dignitaries present echoed similar views, calling on Ghanaians to rise above political divisions and unite in the fight against environmental degradation. They emphasized that protecting the country’s natural resources is a shared duty essential for sustainable development and national survival.
