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Chiefs must answer to effects of illegal mining in their areas – Otumfuo
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has said he is not happy with his chiefs in the Amansie area where illegal mining also known as Galamsey has taken over the landscape destroying forest and other vegetation cover.
According to him, his chiefs are aware that he (Otumfuo) has been speaking earnestly about illegal mining and that he is never pleased with them about their alleged involvement in the illegality.
Otumfuo made the statement while speaking at the official launching of the 2023 Green Ghana day event in Kumasi ahead of the project on 9th June 2023 across the country.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reiterated his commitment towards preserving the country’s vegetation cover despite persistent destruction of forest reserves by illegal miners.
He said “as you know a couple of days ago I returned from London, where I added the coronation of Prince Charles the III whose number one legacy is perhaps his commitment to afforestation, reforestation and the fight against climate change. Interestingly my private conversation with him was on land reclamation in Ghana and he agreed to collaborate with me for us to do that. He directed his technical team to my team to formulate a policy to help Ghana reclaim some of our lands that are destroyed by illegal mining (Galamsey)’’ he disclosed.
Before the launched of Ministry of lands and Natural Resource and the Ghana Forestry Commission Green Ghana Day Project, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has already commenced planting trees to protect the environment by planting 2.5 million tears on 6000 hector land towards the protection of Lake Bosomtwe the largest natural lake in the country.
This declaration was made by Otumfuo because of the important premium he attaches to protection to human life and the protection of the lake.
He further more added “as I stand here the minister of land and natural resource Knows that, done about 640 acres of teak plantation in Sekyere Kumawu. I’m also collaborating with the forestry commission to develop another plantation in Offinso where I’m told we have done about two or more compartments. That also we are going to continue to do it.”
He said tree planting is now becoming his hobby because of the tremendous contribution it makes to the environment, climate change mitigation and improvement of livelihood for members of the French communities.
The trees he said also serves as homes to millions of wildlife that contribute to the sustainability of the earth, therefore, one cannot agree with the conservationist and the 26th President of the united states Franklin Delano Roosevelt , when he said “ to exist as a nation to prosper as a state to leave as a people we must have tress’’ for this reason Otumfuo said he has no reason but to embrace green Ghana project when it was launched in 2019.
He said “when old men plant trees society grows great and I have been doing that with my girl and I told her I will never sit under it but she will sit under the tree and for the past two years she has done that with me. we have two trees at the golf park she has nurtured one and I have also natured one’’
He commended Ashanti region for nurturing the higher number of trees thus 7.8 million out of over 31 million with of trees planted nationwide within two years and the trees are doing well. This he said means “our sacrifices are not in vain and being wasted’’.
He encourage Ghanaians to renew their support towards this year’s green Ghana day three planting project under the theme “our forest our health summarizing the importance of forest to our lives’’
He said it is not for nothing forests are called the lungs of the earth stressing without forest our lives on earth indicating for without forest our lives on the planets will be impossible.
Apart from the health benefits forest contributes significantly to nationals economies, however, the reality is that the country’s forest resources are under serious threat from several environmental challenges including illegal mining, the headache of Ghana, illegal logging deforestation, forest degradation, land degradation, climate Change, oil erosion and many other factors.
Goal 15 of the United nation sustainable development goals aim to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of the terrestrial ecosystem, sustainably manage first, combat desertification halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity laws.
However, the Asantehene is worried despite several measures the government has been putting to curb this menace illegal mining and illegal logging continue to pose threat to the country’s forest reserves.
This he said means the government cannot alone, he encourages Ghanaian to get involved to support the government to tackle the matter before that country.
“My chief knows that I have been speaking about this, I’m not happy with chiefs in the Amansie area where Galamsey has taken over the lands. I say to them that if you sit there and you claim you don’t know what is happening then you are not fit to be a chief over there. These are matters we have to take up again and I don’t care who gods it is because we have to enforce it and I have to start with my chiefs first and the government have to deal with the other ones’’ he assured.
He further added, “we all have to take the matter seriously to bring the issue to a closure, because I cannot accept that. I’m going to take a drive around those areas in the Amansie to Manso Nkwanta and all areas to see. I have gotten a report about what is happening there and I’m going to do that’’ he stressed.
He added “end if I finish with that, all the chiefs around that area may have to answer as to why that happened. I was alarmed to hear during the minister press briefing weeks a go that the forest reserves in the Asante Bekwai forest reserve including the Oda river, Subin shelter belt and Aprampram forest reserve are the most forest reserves to control due to the activities of gun-wielding illegal miners and loggers’’
He this unfortunate development cannot continue” I have therefore charge the chiefs in those these areas to work with the forestry commission and the ministry of the lands and natural resources to find ways drive away the illegal miners and the loggers and I know Nananom some of them have benefited from the illegal miners.it is a fact that we have to accept and appreciate it government side too I know there are accusation over there they also have to fight it. We all have to fight it. We cannot hide under any thing by saying we don’t know what is happening’’ he noted.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
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Cervical Cancer alert: Avoid sex at early age
The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.
This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature before they become sexually active.
“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the opportunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.
Dr Commeh stated this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.
According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.
She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”
She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have eliminated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.
Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccination is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.
She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.
She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunately, there are a few women whose HPV persists.
Moreover, she noted that the numbers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of medications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”
Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for prevention and control.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
