Story by Dennis Bebane
Team Lead at USAID Ghana FeediFutre Marketing System Resilience Acitivity (MSR), Michael Amaniampong Owusu, says indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal production without planting the same remains a challenge in combating the rapid climate change in Ghana.
He observed that the Northern part of the country, in spite of its poor environmental condition, is noted as the leading producer of charcoal in Ghana. This, he said, poses a serious threat to the future, and all hands must be on deck to address the issue.
Mr Amaniampong Owusu made the observation during a ground durbar of chief and people of Daffiama in the Upper West Region to mark this year’s Green Ghana Day. The Team Lead at USAID Ghana FeediFuture MSR, Michael Amaniampong Owusu, said the programme aims at ensuring the transformation of Agriculture through private sector partnerships and ensuring smallholder farmers are commercial and profitable through capacity building.
Mr Amaniampong Owusu said for productivity to thrive, it requires a good environment, and they have incorporated environment into their activities. He expressed worry about the poor rainfall pattern within the Upper West Region, especially this year. He noted that current global warming is the result of negative human activities on the environment.
Mr Amaniampong Owusu said many people may not know how they impact the environment but must pay attention to addressing the problem to safeguard the future. He said USAID FeediFuture MSR will continue to partner with Ghana Government to ensure the success of the Green Ghana project. He commended the Forestry Commission for their support in providing them with over ten thousand seedlings to distribute to 17 districts in the North. He said MSR will monitor to ensure the growth of the trees.
Assistant District Manager Forestry Commission Lawra, Kofi Sarpong, said as the population increases, there is pressure on the environment and the need for deliberate policy at the community level. He said local medicines are produced from trees’ bark to treat sicknesses and stressed that trees must be preserved for their crucial role in our lives.
Head of Agric Department in Daffiama Bussie Issa District, Samuel Oteng Poku, said trees planted must be properly nurtured and not abandon for fire to consume. He said bush fires are impeding the success of afforestation and reforestation. Mr Oteng Poku said our great grand parents preserved the environment for us and we have to do same for the next generation.
Upper West Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Jonas Kpiereko, said the environmental challenges that we are facing today cannot be overlooked. He said there is hope since the key to protect and sustain the environment is in our hands.
Mr Jonas Kpiereko said the good books about God and the constitution of Ghana mandate us to take stewardship of the environment. Mr Jonas Kpiereko observed that the interconnection between human life and the environment is the tree, and its protection should not be taken for granted.
He said we must add innovation, such as renewable energy and sustainable agriculture practices, among others, to tackle the issue. The Paramount Chief of the Area, Naa Dekunwine Domanlae, in a statement presented on his behalf, commended FeediFuture and its partners for choosing Daffiama as their targeted area for the exercise.
