Respecting Ghana’s Natural Wealth: A Call to Honour Our National Pledge

The silent river of our history is not only about the people who shaped our destiny—it is also about the land, forests, rivers, and minerals that sustain us. Yet today, Ghana’s natural heritage is under siege. Forests that once covered 35% of our land are vanishing at an alarming rate, with nearly 2% of primary forest cover lost annually. In the Volta Region alone, 3,000 hectares of natural forest disappeared in 2025. This is not just environmental decline—it is a betrayal of our national pledge, which calls on us to protect and preserve our country’s resources for posterity.

The Causes of Degradation

• Cocoa Expansion: Accounts for over 50% of forest loss. Cocoa farms push food crops deeper into protected reserves, eroding biodiversity.
• Illegal Mining (“Galamsey”): The most destructive force. Beyond clearing trees, it poisons soil and water with cyanide, leaving scars that are nearly impossible to heal.
• Charcoal & Logging: Driven by urban demand for fuel, indiscriminate cutting thrives in off-reserve areas where monitoring is weak.

Preserving the Jewel of the East – Volta Region

Community-Led Conservation:

• Weto Landscape: 15,000 hectares restored around Amedzofe. The canopy walkway proves forests are worth more standing than cut.
• Sacred Groves: Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary uses traditional taboos to protect forest patches where Mona and Patas monkeys thrive.
• Mangrove Restoration: In Keta and Songhor, mangroves are replanted to shield communities from rising seas and support fishing livelihoods.

Economic & Social Benefits

• Agriculture & Agro-Processing: Cassava, rice, maize, yam, fruits, and vegetables make Volta a food basket. New cassava processing plants and rice mills are reducing Ghana’s USD 3 billion annual food import bill.
• Tourism & Hospitality: Sites like Mount Afadjato, Wli Falls, and Keta Lagoon Basin attract thousands of visitors annually, generating direct income for locals.
• Cross-Border Trade: Strategic location near Togo, Benin, and Nigeria under AfCFTA makes Volta a gateway for logistics and exports.
• Renewable Energy: Hydro, solar, and wind projects are being developed to power SMEs and industries. Volta Lake is being reimagined beyond hydropower into an anchor for aquaculture, irrigation, and transport.
• Job Creation: Over 50 bankable projects identified in agro-processing, aquaculture, ICT, and eco-tourism are expected to create thousands of jobs for youth.
• Community Empowerment: Sacred groves and monkey sanctuaries preserve culture while providing income through tourism.

Opportunities for Ghanaians

• Volunteer & Youth Engagement: National Service personnel can join plantation development of commercial trees.
• Ecotourism Routes: Mount Afadjato → Wli Falls → Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary → Keta Lagoon Basin.
• Agroforestry: Planting trees within cocoa and food farms restores soil health without clearing new land.
• Green Ghana Day: Join the national mission to plant 30 million trees by 2026 to reclaim lost reserves.
• Biblical Vigilance: As in the parable of the lamp and oil, those who preserve more must be entrusted with more. Regions like Ashanti and Western must learn respect for their resources.

Urgent Environmental Watchpoints

• Grass growth along the Volta River and estuaries signals ecological imbalance.
• Continuous dredging of coastal estuaries is essential—because a stitch in time saves nine.

The river of our environment, once thought endless, is drying up. If we fail to act, the “never again” we declare for our people will be meaningless—because there will be no land left to stand on. Respecting our forests, rivers, and minerals is not optional; it is a sacred duty tied to our national pledge.

To honour our pledge, let us rise as custodians of Ghana’s natural wealth—ensuring that future generations inherit not wastelands, but living treasures.

✍️ Retired Senior Citizen
For and on behalf of all Senior Citizens of the Republic of Ghana 🇬🇭

Teshie-Nungua
akpaluck@gmail.com

   Comments0