Public Agenda NewsPaperPublic Agenda NewsPaper
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Font ResizerAa
Public Agenda NewsPaperPublic Agenda NewsPaper
Font ResizerAa
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Search
  • General News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Development Agenda
  • World News
  • Features & Opinions
  • Election watch
  • Editorial
Follow US
Breaking NewsDevelopment Agenda

Ghana’s Forests under siege … From illegal logging, mining & more

Latifa Carlos
Last updated: September 4, 2017 4:14 pm
Latifa Carlos
Share
5 Min Read
Sir John
Sir John
SHARE

Even as Ghanaians have unanimously  risen against illegal mining which is  deemed  to be  causing  harm to our  water bodies, the country still risk missing out on the  fight  against climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if the current scale of forest destruction continues.

Contents
He emphasized that, “forests have a close relationship to our water resources and hence sustainable forest management is of vital importance for the supply of good-quality fresh water, protection against natural hazards like floods or soil erosion and for combating desertification.”He further  observed that  the  greatest challenge facing  the  nation  presently  is  how  to preserve the forests and   water resources  to ensure  that they continue  to  provide  the  economic, social  cultural  and  environmental services to the current and future  generations. “It is quite obvious that all over the world today, the forests from where many rivers and streams take their sources are declining at a rather faster rate than they are being replenished. “This situation,  indeed    is  worrying  and  if not reversed,  could  pose  serious  threats  to the economic , social and biological wealth  of  many  nations, especially  those  of  us in the developing countries  whose  livelihoods  are most dependent on the  forest   and  water resources.”

Human actions such as forest clearance for mining activities, harvesting of  fuel wood, illegal logging,  unsustainable farming practices, rampant wildfires, poaching, charcoal burning, collection of fuelwood in commercial quantities, infrastructural development among others mean that, forestry  in  Ghana is undergoing serious challenges.

There are over 100 forest reserves in Ghana and each of them is endowed in one mineral resource or the other. While these forests provide us with clean air and water, and local communities with food, shelter and livelihoods, the primary focus of others is to destroy it for purposes of satisfying their political interests.

More Read

Eliminating Intra-African Trade Barriers no Longer Optional – AfCFTA Scribe
Judge reverses Trump administration’s cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University
I’ll hold you to the June 2026 deadline – Mahama to Ofankor–Nsawam road contractor
Draft report on review of Constitution to be ready by October – CRC
GRNMA apologises to Health Minister over attacks

It is interesting to note that the Atewa range forest reserve in the Eastern region is the source of three major rivers namely: River Densu which supplies the Weija lake, River Ayensu and River Abirim. It is also a source of water for agriculture, industry and domestic activities.

Public Agenda understands that forest reserves including the Supuma, Subri, Bonsa, Upper Wassaw, Apamprama, Desin, Oda among others are being degraded at an alarming rate due to  human activities including  Illegal logging and mining.

The trend has led to the pollution of water bodies, while large tracts of forests have been depleted.

It is estimated that the rate of deforestation currently stands at 65, 000 hectares per annum and Ghana’s total forest cover, which stood at 8.2 million hectares, representing 34 per cent of the total land area, at the turn of the last century, had decreased to 1.6 million hectares.

It is on record that about 70 percent of Ghanaians depend on wood fuel for their household energy needs and as a major source of livelihood. The annual consumption of wood fuel is estimated at 16 million m3. Wood fuel is a very important energy source for households and its use is dominant in rural households who depend on it for cooking and for small-scale processing activities.

Risk of importing water

In particular, experts have predicted that Ghana risks importing water from the neighbouring countries, or may have to desalinate sea water to supply its populace if the forests from where many rivers and streams take their sources from are not properly conserved.

The prediction, they said, may come to pass if the rampant felling of trees and illegal mining   activities in the country’s forests reserves continue indiscriminately as currently being witnessed.

A former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon.Nii Osah Mills some time ago  stated that water and forests are essential needs for every household in Ghana and all over the world therefore  any effort to preserve  the  resources  in any   form   will mean  preserving  them  for the  people  and  their  livelihoods.

He emphasized that, “forests have a close relationship to our water resources and hence sustainable forest management is of vital importance for the supply of good-quality fresh water, protection against natural hazards like floods or soil erosion and for combating desertification.”

He further  observed that  the  greatest challenge facing  the  nation  presently  is  how  to preserve the forests and   water resources  to ensure  that they continue  to  provide  the  economic, social  cultural  and  environmental services to the current and future  generations.

 “It is quite obvious that all over the world today, the forests from where many rivers and streams take their sources are declining at a rather faster rate than they are being replenished.

 “This situation,  indeed    is  worrying  and  if not reversed,  could  pose  serious  threats  to the economic , social and biological wealth  of  many  nations, especially  those  of  us in the developing countries  whose  livelihoods  are most dependent on the  forest   and  water resources.”

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

Latest News

Shadows of Empire: The CIA, Kwame Nkrumah, and the Struggle for Ghanaian Sovereignty
September 3, 2025
Empowering Rural Women through environmental justice: GAGGA grantees convene in Accra
September 3, 2025
Birim North District Unveils Medium -Term Development Plan and More…
September 2, 2025
Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo removed
September 1, 2025
ABANTU Engages Unsuccessful Women Parliamentary Candidates to Strengthen Political Participation in Ghana
August 28, 2025
Pakistan unveils 7-point plan for Gaza peace at OIC summit
August 26, 2025
Bagre Dam Spillage claims life of farmer
August 26, 2025

You Might Also Like

Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

Ghana and Nigeria explore electricity for gas barter agreement

August 26, 2025
Breaking NewsGeneral Newstop stories

Ghana drops to 61st in 2025 Global Peace Index

August 26, 2025
Breaking NewsDevelopment AgendaElection watch

Charles Abugre Chairs MiDA Board

August 22, 2025
Breaking NewsBusinesstop stories

Ghana cedi is world’s best-performing currency – Mahama tells investors in Japan

August 20, 2025

About Us

Public Agenda is fou­nded and owned by Pu­blic Agenda Communic­ations.

Public Agenda was founded as a public interest Me­dia entity. Its Visi­on is to contribute to building a well-i­nformed society where accurate informati­on dissemination is the cornerstone of a democratic, just and equitable society.

Its mission is to inform, guide and bui­ld responsible citiz­enship and accountab­le decision making and strive for excell­ence in the media in­dustry. Public Agenda Communications is managed by a Board of Directors.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?