We Are Destroying Our Own Tomorrow” – Nana Kobina Nketiah V Laments Environmental Degradation.

The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Esikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketiah V, has raised serious concerns over the alarming rate of environmental destruction in Ghana.

According to him, Ghanaians are behaving as if there is no tomorrow, as the country’s lands, forests, and water bodies continue to suffer degradation through illegal mining (galamsey) and other harmful human activities.

He made the remarks during an environmental forum organised by the Faculty of Built and Natural Environment of Takoradi Technical University under the theme “Keep It Clean, Keep It Safe: A Collective Action for a Sustainable Environment.”

Addressing participants, Nana Kobina Nketiah V stressed that the continuous destruction of the environment amounts to destroying the nation’s future.

He noted that no one can guarantee tomorrow if the current trend of environmental abuse persists.

He therefore called on Ghanaians to return to their roots and cultural heritage, where natural resources were protected and preserved for future generations.

According to him, in the olden days, communities upheld strong traditional values that discouraged selfishness and greed.

Rivers, forests, and lands were regarded as sacred, and no one dared to destroy them for personal gain.

The Vice Chancellor of Takoradi Technical University, John Frank Eshun, also emphasised that safeguarding the environment requires effective and coordinated policies.

Rev. Prof. Eshun stated that the future of the environment depends largely on the actions taken today.

He called on all stakeholders, including policymakers, traditional leaders, and citizens, to wake up from what he described as a “slumber” and take decisive action to protect the environment.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Built and Natural Environment, Gladys Ama Quartey, explained the rationale behind the forum.

She stressed that if critical and urgent measures are not taken to address environmental challenges, there will be no sustainable future for Ghanaians, as the environment remains central to human survival.

According to her, the state of the environment today directly determines the well-being and survival of generations yet unborn.

Story by Nana Fynn@W/R.