By Hannah Dadzie.
The Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin has expressed worry about the impact of environmental degradation on the ecological system, and its subsequent effect on developmental growth.
He said local authorities must be given the sole prerogative in tackling issues such as galamsey, deforestation, and illegal timber logging.
“To ensure sustainability of the nation’s rich natural resources and biodiversity, there was a need for local community ownership in their management” he indicated.
Okyehene said this when a delegation of UN Agencies called on him at Ofori Panin Fie in Kyebi in the Eastern Region to present a project that will help to restore degraded landscapes and create awareness on best Agroforestry practices in the region.
The visit by the delegation from the UN Agencies led by UNDP was to present a report on a project by the Agencies to address multiple development issues and provide an impetus to sustain the process.
As part of the project, 3 million trees would be planted over the next three years under the environmental component to restore degraded landscapes and create awareness on quality agroforestry practices, as well as support the Okyenhene’s vision to plant 25 million trees by 2024 in the Akyem Abuakwa State.
The implementation of the project would be in partnership with the Okyeman Environment Foundation and other stakeholders. The aim is to also plant fast-maturing tree species that can be harvested periodically for its economic benefits.
The UN is supporting the Fostering Reforestation, Environmental Sustainability and Tourism in the Okyeman Area (FOREST Okyeman) with a $2.3-million grant. This will be supported with co-funding of another $1.3 million from the participating UN Agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme (UNV) together with OEF, to address multiple development issues.
The Okyehene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, said to achieve SDG goal 13 which is “taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” there must be a holistic approach to tackle the bad practices that degrade the environment head-on.
“Our forebears knew the importance of conserving nature, that was why they prevented people from farming close to river banks and other water bodies” he said.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani said the project would also provide “alternative livelihood and jobs, strengthen local institutions to monitor the environment, protection against illegal mining, strengthen the educational system, and clean the contamination in water bodies affected by the use of cyanide and mercury’’.
Mr Abani commended the Okyehene and the Okyeman Environment Foundation for the active work to address issues relating to the environment and health in the region and the country as a whole.
The Presidential Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr Eugene Owusu, spoke of Ghana’s commitment towards mitigating the impact of climate change while ensuring the sustainable use of resources.
“I commend the great vision of the Okyenhene around environmental sustainability, which deals with the essential threats that climate change poses for the world as a whole.” he noted.
The Agencies say they are committed to working with indigenous authorities, government and the private sector to safeguard the environment, maximize the tourism potential of the region and ensure good health and education outcomes for the people.