We stand against Bauxite mining at Atewa Forest- Arocha Ghana

Arocha Ghana Organisation has expressed it dissatisfaction with government decision on the Atewa forest reserve to be serve as a collateral for the 15 billion Chinese loan by the vice president Mahamadu Bawumia, in which it will serve as a bauxite zone which will generate income to resolved the loan.

According to Arocha Ghana, though the money will help in many ways, by providing about 10,000 jobs opportunity for the youth, but we should also think of the resources the Atewa forest provides since it was established in 1926 and how it has help till date and also the generations after.

Speaking on Radio 1 programme ”Our Land Our Future” with the host Mr. Oppong Kyekyeku, Mr. Emmanuel Ackom a guest from Arocha Ghana Organisation, said the Atewa forest reserve is there to serve the country in so many purposes which has been serving since it was established. He said the forest contain so many resources that gives profits to the country.

According to him, the aim of the organization is to help protect the forest for generations to also benefit from it.

”The Atewa forest is one of the best forest in the eastern region and  can serve as a tourist site, there are varieties of butterflies, trees, and wild animals to help entertain tourists for more profits to the country, so in comparing the value of the bauxite to this valuable resources in which we could lose forever”. he asked.

He said that the bauxite can only last for not more than 24 years so therefore we should not think of losing our forest for it.

He further explained that when we are to accept to the issue of the bauxite, we are going to lose all the trees which helps in climate change, also the head of the big rivers such as river Birim, the Ayensu and the river Densu which provides water for a bunch of people in the eastern region and beyond including streams and mountains etc.

He finally said the forest have been reserved since 1926 and it has been providing profits for the country and so we should all say no to the bauxite mining activities.

Source: radiooneghana.com/Modesta Obenewaa