PROFESSOR Emmanuel Danquah,
Professor Emmanuel Danquah, a lecturer at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has urged the government to reconsider its intention of giving out the Atewa Forest for bauxite mining.
He cautioned that the nation risks suffering long-term disadvantages if it proceeds to mine bauxite in the Atewa Forest.
Prof Danquah was speaking at the maiden national conference organised by the Faculty of Development Studies of the Presbyterian University College (PUC) at Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.
It was on the theme: ‘Environmental management and livelihood: nexus towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals.’
Prof Danquah indicated that though the country would make some profit from mining bauxite, it was also necessary to appreciate that the Atewa Forest is an important water source for most of the river bodies in the country.
For his part, the Dean of the Faculty of Development Studies, PUC, Dr Edward Wiafe, reiterated the need for government to reconsider its decision to safeguard the natural resources in the forest.
Joel Ayim Darkwa, Programme Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), indicated that livelihoods and the environment were strongly interlinked, thus the need to protect the Atewa Forest.
He advocated a green economy to reduce environmental risks, scarcity and degradation, while creating economic opportunities for the people and communities.
Darly Bosu, Deputy National Director, Arocha, a nongovernmental organisation focusing on environmental related issues stressed on the need to conserve the environment and if bauxite mining would take place in Ghana, it should be in the Nyinahin forest reserve and not in Atewa.
He explained that Atewa being a protective forest reserve, could not be mined but Nyinahin forest reserve could be viable for bauxite mining since it is a productive reserve and had a larger size of minerals compared to Atewa. –classfmonline.com
Bauxite refinery expected to be completed in the next 3 years – Oppong Nkrumah
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