CHIEFS SEEK SOLUTIONS TO BUSFIRES IN UPPER EAST
CHIEFS SEEK SOLUTIONS TO BUSFIRES IN UPPER EAST February 16, 2011
BY P. ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The indiscriminate burning of bushes and forests generally termed bushfires, has become a threat to the sustainable use of natural resources in Ghana. The long-term negative impact of bushfires on people especially those in the three northern regions include loss of soil fertility, land degradation, loss of human lives and property among others.
The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Hon. Sherry Ayittey made these observations in a keynote address at a day’s seminar held in Bolgatanga for chiefs and land owners to discuss and seek solutions to the menace of bushfires. The address was read on her behalf by Dr. Nicholas Iddi, a technical director at the ministry.
Hon. Ayittey noted that apart from destroying soil structure and texture leading to soil infertility and erosion, bushfires also affect rainfall patterns and therefore food production. She recalled that in the recent past, there have been drought conditions in Ghana in 1975, 1983 and lately in 2007 and blamed bushfires as a contributory factor.
The minister further observed that the incidence of bushfires in the three northern regions has been rising over the past few years. She thus commended chiefs who have instituted innovative measures to curb bushfires in their traditional areas and singled out the Bongo Naba, Baba Salifu Alemyaarum for praise. She also called for the creation of forest reserves and sacred groves as is being done in Daking and Tong-bui both in the Talensi-Nabdam district of Upper East.
According to Hon. Ayittey, the Canadian International Development Agency is supporting Ghanaian institutions and by extension rural communities to enable them reverse land degradation and adopt sustainable land and water management systems that reduce poverty and improve food security.
The Upper East regional director of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], Mrs. Zenabu Wasai-King whose office organised the seminar on the theme: “integration of indigenous knowledge into bushfire management practices in Northern Ghana, the central role of traditional authorities and their communities” observed that the local environment has been subjected to various forms of degradation such as land excavation for building, surface mining and tree felling.
Mrs. Wasai-King said it takes time for local communities to appreciate the undesirable effects of land degradation. She said the EPA will therefore guide the traditional rulers and land owners through focus group discussions at the end of which they will issue a communiqué stating their preparedness and concerted efforts to fight bushfires.
The Deputy Upper East regional minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni and the Paramount chief of Nakong, Pε J.B. Afagachie are among other personalities who gave presentations at the seminar.
BY P. ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The indiscriminate burning of bushes and forests generally termed bushfires, has become a threat to the sustainable use of natural resources in Ghana. The long-term negative impact of bushfires on people especially those in the three northern regions include loss of soil fertility, land degradation, loss of human lives and property among others.
The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Hon. Sherry Ayittey made these observations in a keynote address at a day’s seminar held in Bolgatanga for chiefs and land owners to discuss and seek solutions to the menace of bushfires. The address was read on her behalf by Dr. Nicholas Iddi, a technical director at the ministry.
Hon. Ayittey noted that apart from destroying soil structure and texture leading to soil infertility and erosion, bushfires also affect rainfall patterns and therefore food production. She recalled that in the recent past, there have been drought conditions in Ghana in 1975, 1983 and lately in 2007 and blamed bushfires as a contributory factor.
The minister further observed that the incidence of bushfires in the three northern regions has been rising over the past few years. She thus commended chiefs who have instituted innovative measures to curb bushfires in their traditional areas and singled out the Bongo Naba, Baba Salifu Alemyaarum for praise. She also called for the creation of forest reserves and sacred groves as is being done in Daking and Tong-bui both in the Talensi-Nabdam district of Upper East.
According to Hon. Ayittey, the Canadian International Development Agency is supporting Ghanaian institutions and by extension rural communities to enable them reverse land degradation and adopt sustainable land and water management systems that reduce poverty and improve food security.
The Upper East regional director of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], Mrs. Zenabu Wasai-King whose office organised the seminar on the theme: “integration of indigenous knowledge into bushfire management practices in Northern Ghana, the central role of traditional authorities and their communities” observed that the local environment has been subjected to various forms of degradation such as land excavation for building, surface mining and tree felling.
Mrs. Wasai-King said it takes time for local communities to appreciate the undesirable effects of land degradation. She said the EPA will therefore guide the traditional rulers and land owners through focus group discussions at the end of which they will issue a communiqué stating their preparedness and concerted efforts to fight bushfires.
The Deputy Upper East regional minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni and the Paramount chief of Nakong, Pε J.B. Afagachie are among other personalities who gave presentations at the seminar.
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