An Open Letter To The Eastern Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission

Dear Regional Manager,
I am writing to bring to your attention a pressing matter regarding illegal gold mining operations currently being carried out in parts of our family's 14-square mile freehold upland evergreen rainforest property at Akyem Juaso.

The Forestry Commission must form a team immediately to investigate who the powerful and wealthy individuals behind these operations are. No regulatory body has the right to give out concessions in what is a privately-owned rainforest property, which is neither traditional nor Stool land, without the knowledge and consent of the owners.

If it so happens that any members of my extended family clan, our overseers, or those farming there without our knowledge and permission, are also engaged in any of the illegal activities on our land - including allegations of illegal logging for chainsaw bushcut lumber production - please ensure that they are apprehended and made to face the full force of the law.

The Apotosu, Akusoo, Cheboa, and Bordwerse streams border and criss-cross our 14-square mile Akyem Juaso property, which is their watershed. This biodiversity-rich upland evergreen rainforest property lies in a designated Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), with 99.6 acres inside the Atewa Forest Reserve and the rest on the once heavily wooded slopes off the reserve.

In 2006, Conservation International carried out a rapid assessment surveyin the biodiversity-rich Atewa Range (including our land), which was funded by the American aluminium giant, Alcoa. The results and recommendations are available online in RAP Bulletin No. 47. A pillar erected by the team with "GSBA" etched on top stands on our land, underscoring the importance of our upland evergreen rainforest as an ecosystem services provider, especially in the face of climate change impacting rural Ghana.

I request a prompt response regarding the actions the Forestry Commission will take to address this issue. I also expect your office to collaborate with the relevant law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

I am copying the Eastern Regional Minister, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, and the Commander of the Anyinam Divisional Police Command on this letter, as their prompt intervention is required to stop the ongoing destruction of our property and the environment.

Thank you.
Kind regards,
Kofi Thompson
CC:
Eastern Regional Minister
Eastern Regional Police Commander
Commander, Anyinam Divisional Police Command
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