Ghana, our beloved country, is blessed. She has several natural gifts and resources. I remember when I was in primary school, when the teacher asked the class to name the minerals that Ghana had,we would mention gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese and limestone. With the help of God,crude oil was added in 2007.
In several jurisdictions around the world, natural resources are vigorously protected. In Ghana we are doing our best (I guess) to protect the natural resources we have. There has been efforts to plant trees and ensure reforestation (or so we were told), there are several national parks and a Parks and Gardens Department (is it still in existence?) in this country.
The commence of the oil industry brought a new challenge for organizations like the EPA and the Ghana Maritime Authority. I can't say they are not protecting our marine eco-systems from the chemicals and substances used by the oil companies, but i can say that twenty-one dead whales were washed ashore off the coast of the Western Region from 2009 (when oil production commenced) to November 2013.
Coincidence?
Whatever it is that God in His great wisdom has given us as a nation, it is our duty to utilize fully and not damage others in the process. It may be difficult to see how the death of 21 whales should concern us as a nation, but when we begin to understand the role these creatures play in the marine eco-system, the rate at which they are reducing in number and the fact that the death of big animals means that smaller creatures stand a lesser chance, we will appreciate how vital it is for us as a nation to be careful what we do.
Early this morning, i went to Boti Falls with a friend of mine. He shares my passion for nature, so we decided to spend some time in Koforidua and and visit places of nature. After a 15mins drive we arrived at the place. The place had changed for me, which was a good thing. There was a paved compound and several nice structures. Our guide took us down to the waterfall (where the water had receded because of the dry season) and we enjoyed the spectacular view of the waterfall.
We then proceeded to the forest to look at the cave, umbrella-rock and the three-stemed palm tree. We heard the sound of a chainsaw very close. We got closer and there were some men cutting down the trees around the compound of the waterfall. The explanation we got was the Government of Ghana has sold out these teak trees to some Indians for export. Really?
Look at these......
I have several questions. One of them is, why? Are we as a nation so broke that we are selling off the trees around a waterfall and its surrounding vegetation for some few thousands of dollars? These teak trees, irrespective of their use, are not going to be the ones to change the finances of our nation. If for nothing at all, the vegetation is part of a tourist destination. There are several animals, insects and water bodies that depend on these trees. The river the produces the waterfall itself depends on these trees for rainwater. So yet again, why?
These trees are several decades old and over a hundred more have been marked for felling.
These trees form a nice, cool and serene vegetation on the mountains around the waterfall. The stream pictured above, runs in the valley below these trees and is a source of livelihood for some communities around there. The water in the stream tastes wonderful by the way.
All the trees marked red with a blue number are meant for felling. They are numbered like prisoners on a death row.
I am not even an environmentalist. But I know that this is wrong, too wrong to be ignored. I was told that when the trees are cut, the stamps germinate again. Is that the justification? By the time the "new" trees will come of age, the stream may have dried up and the eco-system already distorted.
I am asking all to speak about this. We cannot allow this to happen.
For God. For Country. For Us.
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