The Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL) has appealed to the government to take urgent measures to protect and restore the Atewa Landscape, describing the forest reserve as a vital national asset that must be preserved for future generations.
The appeal was made through a petition presented to Parliament’s Committee on Petitions on Friday, May 22, 2026, in commemoration of the International Day for Biological Diversity.
In the petition, CCAL raised concerns over the increasing destruction caused by illegal mining and logging activities within the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, warning that continued environmental degradation threatens biodiversity, water sources, farmlands, and the livelihoods of nearby communities.
The group stressed that the Atewa Forest plays a critical role in climate regulation and serves as a major water source for millions of Ghanaians.
“Protecting the Atewa Landscape is protecting Ghana’s future,” the petition emphasised.
CCAL further indicated that environmental damage within the landscape has reportedly contributed to the disruption of treated water supply in Kyebi and adjoining communities over the past several months.
As part of its recommendations, the group called on the government to declare an environmental emergency in the Atewa Landscape to support efforts aimed at restoring the Densu Basin, Birim, and Ayensu rivers, which provide water to more than five million people in the Eastern, Central, and Greater Accra regions.
The petition also urged authorities to convert the Atewa Range Forest Reserve into a National Park, intensify the fight against illegal mining, prosecute individuals financing destructive activities, and embark on massive reforestation and land reclamation programmes.
According to CCAL, protecting the Atewa Landscape remains essential to ensuring environmental sustainability, water security, and national development.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
