By Patrick Biddah
The destruction of the Atewa Forest located in the Eastern region, continues unabated despite an order by the Paramount Chief of the area to keep it intact.
The Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoaten Ofori Panin, had in a statement last year, ordered all persons to stay off the forest.
But in a rather defiant and total disregard to the Okyehene’s Order, individuals and groups, continue to carry out activities in the forest.
A group of concerned citizens living around Atewa, have blown the cover on the activities of such individuals by calling for an immediate halt of mining and lumbering in the forest.
At a press conference yesterday in Accra, the President of the Concerned Citizens living around the forest, Mr Oteng Adjei, indicated that the wanton destruction of the forest is gross disrespect to the Okyehene.
He said, illegal mining activities are ongoing in the forest and if a stop is not put to it the forest will be lost in no time.
According to him, these destruction is being aided by officers of the Forestry Commission who seem to have neglected their duties and responsibilities to protect the forest.
“ We are in a very dark days in the life of the Atewa Forest Reserve “, he noted.
If the forest is allowed to be destroyed, he expressed the fear that there will be water shortages since rainfall patterns will be affected.
He, thereof called on the authorities to do the right thing by arresting and bringing to book all those who are behind the destruction of the Forest.
“ Nana sir Ofori Atta 1 is grimacing in his grave that the legacy he selflessly fought to preserve for posterity has been left to rot thus rendering useless his lofty ideals and ideas he bequeathed to posterity “, he added.
