The Coalition of NGOs against Mining in Atewa Forest on Friday, June 21, 2019 presented to the Parliament of Ghana, a petition which concerns the mining of Bauxite in the Atewa Forest.

The aim of the march was to draw Parliament’s attention of the need to make informed decisions for the protection and effective management of the Atewa forest and the water shed it feeds by ensuring the Landscape is excluded from any form of mining exploitation.

The Majority leader, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu received the Petition on behalf of Parliament and promised that Parliament would study the content of the petition and address the issue in due time.

Government Response

Mr. Daryl Bonsu addressing the media

Responding to the petition, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh said government will pursue reasonable and sustainable mining in Atewa Forest Reserve adding that, the mining of bauxite would be done using a modern mining technology which will in turn, maintain the sanctity of the forest.
“We’re determined to do reasonable and sustainable mining that the environment would be saved. We’re not going to destroy the natural edifice by way of destroying trees and rivers on the ground,” he said.

Mr Asomah-Cheremeh continued: “We have listened to the concerns of the people and that’s why we’re coming up with reasonable methodology and sustainable ways of doing bauxite mining so that the water bodies and forest will be maintained so that there will be no problems.”

This line seems to be the only response government has given since campaigns against mining in the Atewa began. But in counter responses, environmentalists have also argued that there is there is nothing sustainable and responsible about mining bauxite in a watershed like Atewa Forest.

“We know there is no “modern technology” that can remove the red mud without first removing the forest that grows on top. In actual fact, if the President has been told that there is a technology that can remove the red mud without destroying the forest cover which supports wildlife; without negative impact on downstream water bodies and underground aquifers, and without the health-related issues associated with the red dust that comes with bauxite mining, then that information is not factual and unproven,” Concerned Citizens of Atewa Forest had asserted in an earlier statement.

Environmentalists have therefore challenged government to show to Ghanaians what those ‘sustainable’ technologies are.

The March

Prior to the presentation of the petition, the group embark on several activities including a Stand Still Street Messaging on some principal streets in Accra.

The peaceful protest continued late Friday morning with a peaceful march from the Ghana Wildlife Society premises at Ridge to Parliament—where the petition was delivered.
Together with members of the general public, the CSOs poured onto the streets of Accra amidst chanting and singing; demanding government to rescind its plan to mine in the Atewa Forest. They were also clad in various paraphernalia with the inscription, ‘Save Atewa’ and holding placards with several messages on them.

The coalition is made up of Arocha_Ghana Forest Watch Ghana Kasa Initiative Ghana Ecocareghana
A Rocha Ghana, Forest Watch Ghana, Friends of the Earth, Tropenbos Ghana, UN Youth Ghana, Civic Response and Eco Care Ghana. The rest are Kasa Initiative Ghana, Plastic Punch, Ghana Wildlife Society, GYEM and Hipsters of Nature.

SOURCE: GHANA.AROCHA.ORG

 

Past Projects

Kasa's efforts in restoring mangrove forests to mitigate coastal erosion

The Keta lagoon tragedy is still edged in the minds of residents who helplessly watched as the sea claimed their loved ones lives, their property and even robbed their gravesites. Now, all that’s left of a once thriving community is stumps of houses and sunken hopes evident by their scowled faces. This phenomenon is unfortunately becoming common along Ghana coastlines as the sea levels rise and take claim to lives, land and property.

One of the evidence of climate change is rising temperatures which impact the sea and oceans in various ways. One is melting polar ice which leads to expansion of oceans which in turn encroach on lands such as Keta. Secondly, the high temperatures which are stored in the water exacerbates water acidity which then degrades coral reefs and even mangroves; which act as sea defense. Cases such as Keta’s can be observed world over, in coastal areas.

The Government of Ghana has responded to this recurring disaster with measures to keep the sea at bay and relocation propositions for community members. Along  Ghana’s volta region and other coastal regions, one can observe sea defense systems protecting coastlines from strong tidal waves that cause erosion, flooding, amongst other hazards. These engineered structures are fortified to ensure durability and restoration of normally for coastal communities. However, as with most man made structures, there is a lifespan to such structures.  That is why organisations such as Kasa Initiative Ghana advocate for Nature based solutions such as planting of Mangroves.

Mangroves forests not only act as sea defense but perform as carbon sinks better than terrestrial forests. Additionally, their roots create an ecosystem for marine life to start and thrive. Marine creatures such as turtles and fish rely on this ecosystem for survival in initial life stages before venturing into the deep sea. Kasa with support from IUCN and Forestry commission sought  to restore mangrove in South Tongu District of the Volta Region. The exercise, done in collaboration with youth, women and men from the communities not only identified locations for restoration but also provided seedlings and carried out the planting. The initiative also engaged community members on the importance of mangrove forest in the environment and what it takes to ensure the forests reach maturity. 

 

In previous years, communities along the coastline in the Volta region were well barricaded from tidal waves by thinning mangrove forests. However, due to livelihood activities such as mangrove harvesting, the forests are now shrinking and far apart. Smoking of fish and other seafood is common in these areas with mangrove being the preferred source of firewood. Due to this, introduction of alternative livelihood is a key component to restoration efforts to avoid a recurrence of the current where firewood heaps are aligned along the coastline and in markets. 

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