Question Akufo-Addo's intention to exploit bauxite in Atewa – Coalition urges Ghanaians

General News on Tuesday, June 4th, 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2019-06-04

Daryl Bosu, deputy national director of A Rocha Ghana, urged Ghanaians to add their voice to A Rocha Ghana and concerned citizens of the Atewa landscape in order to put an end to the government's intention to exploit bauxite in the Atewa forest.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo's plan to exploit bauxite at Atewa would have adverse effects on the environment and should therefore nullify his decision to preserve the environment.

At a press conference held in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Bosu said that "there is nothing sustainable and responsible about the extraction of bauxite in a watershed like the forest of Atewa ".

"Where is the legitimacy when this process is surrounded by secrecy, total negligence and lack of respect for the voices that oppose the way you try to implement this program," he questioned. .

He added that the President had disrespected the voice of millions of people asking him to exempt Atewa Forest from its bauxite program, while continuing to inform Ghanaians of the 39, application of international best practices.

Mr. Bosu noted that the extraction of bauxite in such a watershed forest requires the removal of vegetation, habitat and the upper layer of soil, hence the The president's claim not to harm wildlife is only a mirage.

"According to the Minerals Commission, the bauxite deposits at Atewa are in a thick layer averaging 6 meters in thickness, only 1.5 to 3 meters below the surface. Open pit mining is the only way to exploit Ghana's bauxite because of its proximity to the surface. This method removes all vegetation, habitats and soil, while the rock below is then broken with explosives. The exploitation of bauxite in Ghana is a striking example of the destruction of the bauxite mine in Awaso, in the western region, where there is currently a red mud desert that has replaced a thick forest, "he said.

The group also invited President Akufo-Addo, who co-chairs the Sustainable Development Goals advocates, not only "to talk about promises of pursuing environmental sustainability, but above all so that our development plans truly reflect this great discourse".

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, badured Ghanaians 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. .

He believes that 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.

President Akufo-Addo made the statement at the Conference on Sustainable Ocean Industries organized under the auspices of the Ghana Petroleum Commission, Aker Energy and the Norwegian Embbady in Ghana.