‘Operation Halt’ Chainsaw in Northern Ghana
Three months have passed since some media agencies threw light on the alarming trend of illegal chainsaw operations in the Northern Region of Ghana. The southern western parts of the arid savannah lands, which holds the last remnant patches of forests was taken siege by illegal merchants who either came with their own chainsaw operators from the south, or engaged local young men to fell rosewood to service their illegal rosewood trade. Harvested rosewood was transported illegally in the dark of the night passing several police check points and shipped out of the country through our own ports to rosewood markets mainly in Asia.
Although these illegal chainsaw activities have been going on for a long time, the siege by the timber merchants in areas like West, North, and Central Gonja Districts as well as Bole Districts was certainly an affront on the efficiency and effectiveness of our state agencies to police and secure nature resources in the savannah eco-zones. The situation therefore demanded a reactive response from the Forest Services Division and all concerned law enforcement agencies. A Rapid Response Team was subsequently detailed to these areas which in the interim stalled all chainsaw activities forcing most of the timber merchants and their operators to go underground. The Rapid Response Team was active on the ground for a month and they also left. Many abandoned logs still lie where they were felled. The blame game has been shifted from one door step to another, and no one agency has admitted responsibility for the destruction caused. The obvious culprits have also been also been left alone to enjoy their booty without any deterrent measures.
Has the chainsaw stopped in the Northern Region?
Truth be told that this incident is not the first to occur and won't be the last if responsible state agencies do not put in place lasting deterrent measures supported by national policies and adequately backed by legislative frameworks and effective enforcement.
Chainsaw operations are one of the major drivers of deforestation and degradation in the Northern Regions of Ghana. The areas most affected are Bole, West, North and Central Gonja Districts. In West and North Gonja Districts the situation has become so alarming that buffer areas close to Ghana's premier and largest protected area, Mole National Park have come under attack, leaving desolate the communal lands of marginalised communities whose livelihoods from medicine, shelter, food, and religious needs come directly from the land the natural resources within the landscape.
Taking advantage of the ignorance of traditional leaders and some opinion leaders on the forestry and wildlife laws and regulations of the country, the timber merchants have successfully operated in these regions sometimes having some traditional leaders backing them. These merchants or operators go to some local chiefs and some opinion leaders and ask for permission to fell trees in exchange of paying a certain amount of money agreed between the two parties without the consultation of the Forestry Services Division. Actually in these parts, there is an erroneous impression that trees on the land belong to chiefs and they are at liberty to sell them for timber purposes as and when they needed. These merchants or operators are then directed to specific communities where they go and pay a pittance, sometimes just GH S 100, to the community chief and fell as many trees as their vehicles can carry. The communities can't complain because of fear of been threatened by the chiefs or opinion leaders concerned. Clearly the right of the poor to a safe and secure environment is violated.
As a result many places in West Gonja District and North Gonja District have been left to the mercy of these illegal operators. The situation is so serious that it is now common practice for timber merchants and contractors alike to order wood for building construction from these operators directly knowing very well the consignment is coming straight from illegal sources. It shouldn't be surprising to find about 90% of lumber on the market and in use in construction in most of these major town like Damongo, Bole and Buipe are all coming from illegal sources, with substantial revenue losses to the state and to local District Assemblies, most of which are already burdened with the challenged of inadequate Internal Generated Funds (IGFs).
One will ask, is the Forestry Services Division and the law enforcement agencies not aware of these trends, and if so why is the trend on the increase with no proactive measures in place to halt them. Some Chiefs and some individual who are profiting from these illegal activities have the guts to openly challenge law enforcement personnel to dare to stop them. The reactive measures of bringing in the Rapid Response Team for a month, only works for a while but as we all know these measures are not sustainable. Even now as I write, chainsaw activities continue unabated in many places like Busunu, Damongo, Tingha, just to name a few. Where is the Rapid Response Team to check these activities for good?
Lasting Measures Required
His Excellency the President, John Dramani Mahama, in his commitment to halt illegal surface mining, commonly known as 'Galamsey' recently commissioned the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on illegal mining in a special operation code-named 'Operation Halt', as part of efforts to check illegal mining in the country. This is in the face of how these destructive activities are destroying important sources of potable drinking all over the country.
I want to use this media to make a special appeal to the presidency to consider strongly setting up such a Task Force to halt illegal Chainsaw operations in the North and Upper Regions of Ghana. A lot of damage has already been done to the already compromised landscapes of the arid savannah lands and it is about time we stringent measures to stop this menace. Otherwise the work of SADA in planting trees and restoring degraded landscapes with its attendant difficulties will be like pouring water into a basket.
Additionally, the District Assemblies and District Forestry Services Departments should be empowered to enforce forest regulatory frameworks without fear or favour. We all know that there is just too many interference in the work of these departments by some traditional leaders and powers that be. It is time to let our imminent chiefs know that Forest related offenses are criminal and they need to desist from interfering for good of the whole community and the nation.
Clearly there has not been sufficient awareness on Forest Protection and Regulation Policies and laws as well as on issues of benefits sharing. Also inadequate clarity on tree tenure and security can be considered an underlying driver, explaining why some chiefs and individuals by virtue of their social or traditional power status feel they own trees and can therefore take money and allocate certain communal lands within their jurisdiction for timber logging operations.
I have also made the observation that when it comes to enforcing forest and environmental regulations at District levels, someone seem to have 'moved the cheese' of the law enforcement agencies. This is a challenge at District levels and needs to be addressed in a way that will ensure effective policing of the nation's remaining natural resources.
The landscapes of the savanna lands of Ghana are very delicate and under serious threat from desertification, increasing temperature rises with its associated health, social and economic implications. Sure actions must combine both stringent and collaborative measures as necessary.
To conclude, I am sure many concerned citizens of Ghana will agree with me that to ask for an Inter-Ministerial Task Force to halt Chainsaw operations in the Northern Regions of Ghana as a first step is the least the government can do now in these critical moments to save the North and the two Upper Regions from serious environmental degradation and socio-economic collapse.
Daryl Bosu
Concerned Environmentalist