In August 2017, the Then Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Alhassan Suleman Waged War on Charcoal Production in order to protect the Environment.

Background

The Upper West Regional Minister Alhassan Sulemana has called on stakeholders to join the fight against charcoal burning in both the Sissala East and West districts.

He observed that focus should not only be on illegal mining which has a toll on the environment but called for attention and measures in curbing the increasing spate of charcoal burning.

The minister indicated that the concern of government and other well-meaning Ghanaians is to put an end to charcoal burning and illegal mining popularly known as “galamsey”.

In a speech read on his behalf during the Buwaala Kelwie Festival in Zini by the Deputy Regional Minister Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, he stressed that the environment is already depleted and it is getting worse underscoring the need for immediate steps to be taken in order to curb the menace.

“It has far reaching consequences if we fail to tackle them” he noted.

The Minster therefore called on all chiefs, the Environmental Protection Agency, Assembly members, Religious and Opinion leaders, the District Assemblies and District Police Command to join forces to nib the canker in the bud.

He also urged that people who are fond of cutting down trees their activities to be reported to the nearest police station for arrest and subsequent prosecution.

On 1st February 2018, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Suspended Alhaji Alhassan Sulemana from Office.

How Alhaji Amidu Suleman, a former Minister under erstwhile John Dramani Mahama Administration Wayed War on Charcoal Burning.

Stop charcoal burning or perish’ – Minister on 30 March 2015.

Sorbelle – Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, has asked people in the Sissala West District to either stop charcoal burning or perish in the near future.

He said the livelihood of the people,

depended on agriculture and expressed regret at the wanton destruction of trees for charcoal production, adding that, such acts causes climate change and desertification and affects food production.

Alhaji Sulemana said charcoal production had become a lucrative business in the district, with several individuals becoming charcoal  contractors and providing a ready market for the commodity.

He said it was sad that many people in the district were involved in the business because of the guaranteed markets, and warned that if the indiscriminate felling of trees, including economic ones for charcoal production was not stopped, sooner or later, ‘the onetime food basket of the region would become the hunger basket’.

Alhaji Sulemana expressed these at the ‘Gandawi Naabahilime’ festival of the chiefs and people of the Gandawi Traditional Area in the Sissala West District at Sorbelle, over the weekend.

The festival was on the theme: ‘Promoting peace and unity for development through our shared culture’.

The Regional Minister called on stakeholders, such as the traditional rulers, the Forestry Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, District Assemblies and the District Police Command to join forces to nip the activities of persons involved in charcoal burning in the bud.

He also urged people of the communities to report those involved in the indiscriminate felling of tress to the police to save the environment.

Source: Upperwestmedia.net