The Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region of Ghana, Okatakyie Kwasi Bumangama II has observed that the rate of the destruction of the forest reserves by illegal small-scale miners (galamseyers) went up when the powers of the chiefs to manage the forest and summon people who destroy it was taken from them and given to the Forestry Commission.
He indicated that when the Chiefs had the power to control the forest, the illegal miners were scared of entering the forest to carry our their nefarious activities.
He complained to former President John Dramani when the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) visited him as part of his second Building Ghana tour, about how the powers of the traditional authorities to manage the forest reserves had been taken away from them and given to the Forestry Commission alone.
“The power to protect the forest is no longer with the chiefs, it has been given to the Forestry Commission. Previously, the management of the forests was entrusted into the hands of the chefs, but that power has been taken away from us and given to the Forestry Commission. Since then, the forest has been destroyed,” he said during an interaction with Mr Mahama when the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) visited him during his second phase of the ‘Building Ghana Together’ tour.
He added “I am glad you have visited me in my palace. Let me make this point that politicians have taken the powers of the chiefs, who are now powerless to the extent that people I summon to appear before me even threaten to take me to court, but this was not the case in the past.
In reply to him, Former President John Dramani Mahama assured him that under his administration chiefs will be empowered by the laws to manage and protect the forest reserves.
He said the management and protection of the forest will be done by the chiefs in collaboration with the Forestry Commission.
Mr Mahama said “If we come into the office we will have meetings with chefs and see how best we can empower them to protect the forests.
“We need to pass a law that will give powers to the chiefs and the Forestry Commission to work together to protect our forests. This will ensure the protection of our forest.
“Government alone cannot protect the forest, sometimes officials even connive with the galamseyers to destroy the forest.”