Stakeholders Meeting on GEMP implementation

Narration: Participants at a 2-day stakeholders meeting aimed at reversing land degradation in the three northern regions has called on the country’s security agency to institute stiffer punishment of those who engage in activities that results to bush burning and desertification. They also appealed to assemblies and traditional rulers to also help salvage the situation by enacting bye-laws that could help protect the environment from total depletion. The meeting which was being attended by stakeholders drawn from the three northern regions is took place in the Upper East Regional Capital, Bolgatanga. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has the rest of the story.
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Report
The two-day workshop was organized by the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). It was held for relevant stakeholders to brainstorm on the impact of illegal activities affecting the environment and also share experiences in the three northern regions with respect to the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project, which is a 5-year project designed by the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology. It was also organized for stakeholders to propose social interventions to help to mitigate the effects of bush burning among other illegal activities. The participants expressed concern that the country’s law enforcement agencies have failed to put in place the necessary policy and legislation would deter groups and individuals, from causing severe damage to the environment. According to them activities of illegal chainsaw operators coupled with the activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen are contributing immensely to the destruction of the country’s forest and savanna, which they perceived could compound the plight of the rural poor without the necessary interventions. Consequently, the participants called for appropriate alternatives to flush out Fulani herdsmen whose activities are said to be hampering the environment. One of the participants, Mr. Mac Mathew Chancellor, a Senior officer at the Regional Office of the NCCE, Tamale expressed great concern on the activities of Fulani herdsmen that often results to bush burning and recommended stiffer punishment for offenders. He also appealed to the country’s law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with chiefs and community members who through their own selfish interest shield Fulani herdsmen. The Acting Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Upper west Region, Mr. Asher Nkegbe emphasized the need to bring on board all relevant stakeholders including departments and district assemblies to help fashion out ways to halt activities that degrades the environment particularly the activities of farmers and Fulani herdsmen. Participants also stressed the need for strong institutional collaboration between the chiefs and other stakeholders including the Forestry commission and EPA to intensify the campaign for afforestation. This they emphasized demands the support of the media in reversing land degradation in the three northern regions and the country at large. The Regional EPA Director, Madam Zenabu Wasai-King in a presentation outlined the successes achieved under the GEMP project and encouraged the various management committees to step up their efforts in ensuring that the projects achieves its set objectives. She also appealed to all and sundry to help minimize bush burning, this harmattan season.
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