Ban on Illegal Logging and Commercial Charcoal Burning takes-Off in the Savanah Region

Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) advised that the youth should take advantage of the government’s planting for food and jobs program to support the situation.

Ban on Illegal Logging and Commercial Charcoal Burning takes-Off in the Savanah Region
Charcoal

The ban on illegal logging, illegal small commercial charcoal burning and mining activities in the Savannah Region have taken off on Monday, May 10, 2021.

The Chairman of a five-member committee in charge of the enforcement of illegal activities on the environment at Bolewura Safo Kutuge Feso (I) during a press conference held at the forecourt of the Jakpa Palace in Damongo indicated that From May 10, 2021, any vehicle impounded with charcoal will be made to pay a penalty of GHc5 per bag and a GHc1,000 penalty charge on the vehicle load.

He called on the chiefs and people of the region to support the committee to bring an end to the menace. Bolewura added that it will be hopeless if the leadership of the house of Chiefs and government in the region pretends to allow the unfriendly and devastating environmental menace to continue.

He further indicated that the leadership of the Region has been accused and called all sort of names due to the act on social media platforms in the Region and therefore indicated that "Enough is Enough to draw the curtain on this environmental destruction activity in the Savannah Region."

Bolewura Safo Kutuge Feso (I), Chairman of a five-member committee in charge of the enforcement of illegal activities

Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) used the opportunity to assure the taskforces formed, the youth, men and women, the aged, chiefs, children etc in the Savannah Region that leadership of the Regional House of chiefs is awake and will do everything possible within it’s meant to nib the environmental canker in the bud and therefore invite all hands on deck to efficiently enforce the ban to achieve its objectives.

Meanwhile, all exit points in the Savannah Region after 30th May 2021 shall effectively be blocked according to Bolewura.

He again advised that those involved in the logging activities especially the youth should take advantage of the government’s planting for food and jobs program, Green Ghana or arbour day programs seriously since the region has vast lands suitable for agricultural purposes whiles the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs put a livelihood project together to support the situation.

The Paramount Chief for the Buipe traditional area and Vice President of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor (II) on behalf of the Yagbonwura appealed to the government to support the course of ending the menace by providing security for the operations of flushing out those involved in the act.

Buipewura Jinapor further cautioned that the traditional council will deploy its own local warriors to stop the canker if the government fails to support them.

The Savannah Regional Minister, Mr Saeed Muhazu Jibril assured the chiefs and people of Gonja that the Savanah Regional Coordinating Council will provide the needed task force to help stop the menace. He said, "this administration will do whatever it takes legally, to stop all illegal logging, charcoal burning and Galamsey activities in the region."

Mr Muazu Jibril assured that those involved galamsey will not be thrown out of business but will be put into community mining groups in order to regulate their activities for the benefit of the Chiefs and people in the region.

He disclosed that a meeting with those in the Mining Business is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2021.

Abdul Sammed Gurundari, Savannah Region