Bismark Bebli
8 October 2002
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Science, Hon. Mrs. Anna Nyamekye, has said that government is concerned about the persistent destruction of mountains, hilly areas and wanton degradation of the environment.
It is regrettable our mountains and hilly areas have over the years been threatened by human activities and practices such as intensive cultivation along the steep slopes, application of inappropriate mechanization, over grazing, indiscriminate logging, bush fires and human settlements," she lamented Mrs.
Nyamekye made this observation last Friday at the International Year of Mountains grand durbar at Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern region, organized by the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), and other agencies, under the theme "Mountains, People and Livelihoods, Using Mountains Wisely."
She said these negative practices have resulted in the loss of habitat for wildlife biodiversity, thus depriving human and wildlife the means of ensuring sustainable development of mountains and conservation of the natural resources to boost eco- tourism in the country.
She disclosed that the government has made some fund available under the Poverty Reduction Strategy for the implementation of the sustainable development and management of mountains and conservation of natural resources.
She implored all stakeholders, NGOs, private sectors and other organizations to continue to support the programme to ensure a meaningful livelihood of people in the mountainous areas.
The minister added that the government was prepared to help all the agencies and all other divisions of her ministry to maintain and sustain the mountains for ecosystem.
The executive director of Ghana Wildlife Society, Prof. Clement Dorm-Adzobu, contributing, stated that the sustainable development and poverty reduction are paramount to conservation, adding that unfortunately mountains are particularly vulnerable to human and natural ecological imbalances, such as earthquake and poor agricultural practices, which are sensitive to climate change.
According to him, a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization has revealed that a greater percentage of the world's hungriest and chronically malnourished people reside in mountainous regions.
He noted that a sizeable percentage of reported cases of longevity are also found in the mountainous regions accordingly. Prof. Dorm-Adzobu said the vision of the GWS is to project conservation of wildlife in all forms by enhancing environmental quality and improve upon quality of rural areas in the country.
He indicated that the GWS has implemented Afadjato/Agumatsa, Gbedi and Fodome community nature conservation project, in collaboration with the chiefs and the people in these areas with the aim of conserving the rapidly degrading mountains in Ghana.
He said, "As a nation, we need to formulate policies that protect mountains ecosystem, a national mountain conservation strategy to conserve the beautiful mountains in the country."
The chairman of the occasion, Nana Osaedeyoo Addo Dankwa III, lamented that over the years the importance of mountains had not been made manifest in the society, adding that recent degradation of forest on the mountains has resulted in the drying up of rivers that flow from water towers.
He supported the call for a national mountain conservation strategy to promote ecosystem and sustainability of the mountains and the environment generally.
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