Bolewura Refuse Wa Naa’s Plea For Commercial Charcoal transit Through Savannah Region

The chairman of the Committee in charge of Enforcement of illegal Activities on the Environment and also Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional area Bolewura Sarfoge Feso (I) has refused to grant the plea proposal by the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional area of the Upper West Region Wa Naa Fuseini Pelpuo (IV) to allow vehicles carrying commercial charcoal from his region to transit through the Savannah region.

The Wa Naa sent a delegation to the Committee Chairman on Monday, May 31, 2021who visited Bolewura in his palace at Bole, which was led by Jinpenni Naa who also doubles as the Secretary to Wa Naa, including Gourhi Naa, Sampa Nanaa, and Kupahe Naa.

The leader of the delegation speaking at the Bolewura’s Palace said the main aim of their visit was not only to strengthen the existing bond of relationship between the people of Wa Traditional Area and Gonjas of Bole Traditional Area but to plead for the ban on Commercial Charcoal Trade to be relaxed to enable vehicles loaded with Charcoal from Wa to pass through Savannah region.

Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) thanked the delegation for the visit and reiterated that the visit will rekindle the existing bond of relationship between the two ethnic groups that have co-existed for years.
“The black Volta river lying across Bamboi through Buipe to Mankango in the Savannah region taboo Charcoal trade hence the need for the ban”; Bolewura told the delegation.

Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) said the Savannah Region House of Chiefs' position is that no charcoal will pass through the Savannah Region from 31st May 2021 and that the ban is in full force at the moment.

The Paramount Chief added that the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs has banned Commercial charcoal burning, illegal logging, commercial harvesting of fuelwood, and illegal small-scale mining activities in the Savannah Region effective May 2021.

Bolewura Kutuge Feso (I) was selected to chair a five-member committee of Chiefs as part of the outcome of the Savannah Regional House of Chief's dialogue on Commercial Charcoal burning, sustainable small scale mining practices, and combating indiscriminate rosewood harvesting in the Savannah Region at Damongo on April 21, 2021.

Other members of the committee included Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor- Ade Borenyi as Vice Chairman of the Committee, Yapeiwura Dr. ABT Zakaria as a member, Gbenapewura Shunbore Mahama Sakan as a member, Nnaa Dr. Agba Jaaga Gbanpewa Koro of Mo Traditional area as a member and Mr. Abutu Kapori, the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council who is the Secretary to the committee.

The menace has brought destruction and depletion of the vegetation in the Savannah region and the impact on the environment due to climate change.
The five-member committee feet must be the ground in fighting to achieve the set targets during the recent regional dialogue meeting which brought together all the chiefs and stakeholders as well as a section of the public.
Abdul Sammed Gurundari, Savannah Region