Narration: The paramount Chief of the Paga Traditional Area, Pe Charles Awiah Awampaga, has called on government to as a matter of concern resource the various paramouncies to be able to complement the efforts of other stakeholders in combating the menace of bushfires in the country. According to him society is aware of the gravity of the threats and consequences of bushfires, hence the need to empower traditional authorities to help deal with the situation which according to him could assume an alarming proportion if care is not taken. Pe Awampaga who is also the President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, was addressing participants at a two day sensitization workshop on bushfires for traditional authorities in Northern Ghana. Correspondent Isaac Asare has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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The workshop which was jointly organized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MOEST) was held at Bolgatanga on the theme: Integration of Indigenous knowledge into Bushfire Management Practices in Northern Ghana: The Role of Traditional Authorities and the Communities. The purpose of the workshop was to highlight and deliberate on issues of bushfires amongst traditional authorities with the aim of soliciting their views on mitigating efforts, challenges, opportunities and strategies for managing bushfires in their areas of jurisdiction. It was also held to impact sufficient skills to the traditional authorities to enlighten them on the effects of bushfires in all spheres of human endeavour. Participants were taken through various presentations on topics including current laws and regulations of bushfires in Ghana, the central role of traditional authorities in mobilizing their communities to control and manage bushfires in the Upper East Region and community roles in managing bushfires and promoting women participation in bushfire control activities among others. The Paga Pio, Pe Charles Awiah Awampaga, who chaired the function stressed on the urgent need for government to resource and bestow powers to traditional rulers in the fight against bushfires. He noted that efforts aimed at combating desertification and other environmental related issues are a collective responsibility and not a sole responsibility of the EPA and its relevant stakeholders. He said considering the devastating effects that bushfires has on the environment much has to be done in tackling the root causes at the community level. Pe Awampaga further noted that the task of preventing and controlling of bushfires must be given to the local authorities with state institutions giving their full backing. The main task he reiterated is the passing of community bushfire bye-laws and enforcing the existing ones. The Technical Director at the MOEST, Dr Nicholas Iddi, who delivered the keynote address on behalf the sector minister, Mrs Shirley Ayittey, suggested ways at reversing land degradation in northern Ghana and mentioned the adoption to sustainable land and water management practices which he said have the capacity to enhance food security and reduce poverty amongst the citizenry. He called for attitudinal change towards activities that have rippling effects on the environment but rather undertake positive actions such as tree planting, soil and water conservation and controlled grazing to improve the environment and livelihoods. Dr. Iddi also stressed on the urgent need to build the capacities of traditional authorities and opinion leaders to help enforce regulations and local bye-laws associated with bushfire prevention and control as well as traditional beliefs and practices in bushfire management. During an opening forum participants called for strict adherence to customary laws on bushfires as well as stiffer punishment against persons whose activities results to bushfires and environmental degradation. They acknowledged the critical role of women in environmental management and urged them to join in the crusade.
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