Illegal Mining Threatens Ghana Forests….Forestry Commission

In spite of the rapid loss of forests as a result of activities that promote deforestation and forest degradation, illegal mining, one of the key drivers, still continues unabated in Ghana.

The countryside is riddled with numerous illegal mining activities, some of which are carried out by local community members in conjunction with foreigners with serious consequences on the environment.

With this, The Ashanti regional manager for the Ghana forestry commission, Clement Omari has urged the citizenry especially the students to take tree planting as a hobby.

He stated that there’s is a need to plant trees to place the lost vegetative cover due to human activities.

The Forestry Manager mentioned that the cutting down of trees , and illegal mining (galamsey) is a cause for concern.

He made these remarks when planting trees in the Kumasi metropolis.

This year *Tree for Life* Reforestation Initiative represents a major national effort to restore Ghana’s forests, which provide essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and employment to many Ghanaian s.

Mr Clement Omari emphasized that afforestation helped combat climate change, restore degraded land, preserve water bodies and boost agriculture.

He stated that planting trees supports a sustainable environment and enhances the quality of life for current and future generations.

Meanwhile the Ashanti regional minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene said, people find depleting the forest reserve’s will be arrested to face the law

Story by Bismark Mensah@A/R.