Hundreds of residents on the fringe communities of the Atewa Forest Reserve on Saturday commenced a six-day walk from Kyebi to Accra (95km) to protest government’s decision to mine bauxite in the Atewa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region.
The Protest March led by Concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape marched from Sagyimase to Kyebi to petition the East Akyem Municipal Assembly, and Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin for the day of the exercise.
The government of Ghana has announced plans to leverage bauxite deposits in parts of Ghana for a $15Billion financial package from the Chinese government.
The Atewa Forest which is a Global Biodiversity Significant Area is part of current plans of Ghana to develop an integrated bauxite industry in Ghana.
However, the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape -a group made up of representatives of several NGOs, Youth Groups, Interfaith Groups, Forest Fora, Farmer Based Associations, Opinion Leaders, and Community Leaders that have the best long term interest of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area and all the areas surrounding Atewa Forest vehemently oppose the intended bauxite mining.
In a petition presented to Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the group enumerated the significance of the Atewa Forest reserve and the negative impact the intended bauxite mining will have on the forest which the brunt will be felt by millions of Ghanaians hence called on the Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa State to add his voice for government to rescind the decision and instead turn Atewa Forest into a National Park.
“Recent studies by scientist and development agencies shows the significance of this forest for the livelihoods and welfare of many millions of Ghanaians living downstream of the forest who are dependent on the forest’s provisioning of these ecosystem services, most importantly, its water provisioning’, the petition said.
The petition further stated, ‘Analysis of a range of development scenarios has shown that effective protection of the forest yields the greatest economic value over a 30-year period-some US$1,157 million to local communities, downstream residents and national treasury when compared to scenarios that include mining’
By: Ghana/Ultimatefmonline.com/106.9FM/Kojo Ansah
The post Hundreds begin 95KM Protest march against gov’t’s plans to mine bauxite in Atewa Forest appeared first on Ultimate FM.
Hundreds of residents on the fringe communities of the Atewa Forest Reserve on Saturday commenced a six-day walk from Kyebi to Accra (95km) to protest government’s decision to mine bauxite in the Atewa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region. The Protest March led by Concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape marched from Sagyimase to Kyebi […]
The post Hundreds begin 95KM Protest march against gov’t’s plans to mine bauxite in Atewa Forest appeared first on Ultimate FM.
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