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General News on Thursday, June 6, 2019
Source: citinewsroom.com
2019-06-06
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Environmental groups urging the government to stop bauxite mining projects in the Atewa Forest have dared President Nana Akufo-Addo to prove his claim that the kind of technology that would be used to extract bauxite forest would not harm the environment.
Darly Bosu, a spokesperson for the Coalition of Environmental Groups, said in an interview with Eyewitness News that they would easily give up their firm stance against mining in the forest if the president proved her words.
Mr. Bosu emphasized that bauxite mining was one of the most destructive mining types with more severe environmental effects than other minerals.
"We strongly disagree [with President Akufo-Addo] based on the fact that what he said is not proven and that there is no fact to prove it. As far as we know, no technology used in the bauxite mining sector in the world really describes what the president talked about. The exploitation of bauxite in the world is one of the most destructive companies of all time, "he told Selorm Adonoo in Eyewitness News.
Last week, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo badured that the government's plan to extract bauxite from the country's largest natural rainforest, the Atewa Forest, will not destroy the environment in any way.
The technology to be adopted by miners would reduce the impact of mining activity on the quality of life of people whose livelihoods depend on forest resources.
But according to Daryl Bosu, there is no technology to exploit bauxite so as not to harm the environment. The president has the duty to make public the technology he has mentioned.
"If he really has the technology he's talking about, he should show us all." We are ready to see it and we are ready to change our position if it can show it to us, it is possible, "Bosu said.
He also accused the government of failing to conduct extensive consultations and conduct a comprehensive badessment of the environmental impact, which would indicate that Ghana was in danger of losing pursuing mining in the forest, as well as the benefits of a comprehensive badysis.
"They should start with the fundamental exercise of undertaking a strategic environmental badessment, but they give up doing it. But they have already started going to the regions and already have their way. "
President Akufo-Addo, defender of the UN's sustainable development goals and his new Patriotic Party (NPP) government, has been seriously criticized for his decision to extract bauxite in the forest as part of of a $ 2 billion Chinese infrastructure contract.
Some environmental activists and concerned groups, including A ROCHA Ghana, who advocate for the protection of the Atewa forest, questioned the president's commitment to protecting the country's forest resources, which are in rapid decline.
Other organizations, such as the Christian Council of Ghana and the US Forest Service, contacted by the government for technical consultations, urged the government to be cautious in the process as it is likely that the sources of 39 water supply of some five million Ghanaians are affected.
The Christian Council, in particular, suggested that the forest could be turned into a national park instead of a mining operation.
But the government has already taken steps to exploit the forest.
Last week, Thursday, heavy equipment was seen at the forest's entrance port at Sagyimase, clearing a road leading to the forest.
Several medicinal trees have been destroyed.
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