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The Paramount Chief of Kologo, Naba Clifford Abagna Asobayire V, has called for the arrest and prosecution of people who engage in indiscriminate bush burning, warning that the practice threatens forests, wildlife, water resources and the livelihoods of communities.
He has urged traditional authorities and residents across the Builsa, Kologo, Naaga and Navrongo traditional areas to strengthen community surveillance and ensure that offenders are reported to the appropriate authorities, particularly as the dry season approaches and the risk of bushfires increases.
Naba Asobayire V made the call during the inauguration of the BULKONA Community Resource Management Area (CREMA), an initiative designed to bring the four traditional areas together to protect natural resources and promote their sustainable use.
He called on his fellow chiefs to work closely with the initiative’s predominantly young members to identify people who deliberately destroy the environment and ensure that environmental laws are enforced.
“People who engage in indiscriminate bush burning must be arrested and prosecuted because we cannot continue to destroy the very resources on which our survival depends,” he said.
The chief warned that bushfires contribute to environmental degradation and undermine efforts to address climate change, adding that protecting the environment requires more than public appeals; it also demands collective action and the enforcement of existing laws.
Chief warns against illegal mining, wildlife decline
Naba Asobayire V also called on communities within the participating traditional areas to remain vigilant against illegal mining, warning that the activity could damage lands and water bodies and threaten the well-being of residents if allowed to take root.
He further expressed concern about what he described as a decline in wildlife populations, saying animals that were once commonly seen in the area, including deer, hyenas and wild rabbits, had become increasingly difficult to find, while sightings of elephants had also become less frequent.
Although the causes of the reported decline have not been established, the chief suggested that hunting, habitat destruction and other environmental pressures could be contributing factors. He appealed to the Wildlife Division and other relevant authorities to explore measures to protect remaining wildlife and support the recovery of affected populations.
He said the disappearance of wild animals could also deprive future generations of the opportunity to experience them in their natural habitats, noting that some schoolchildren now learn about certain species mainly through textbooks and social media.
The chief stressed that forests, wildlife, water bodies and fish populations must be protected if communities are to safeguard their livelihoods and the environment for future generations.
“If they are all endangered, then we are equally more endangered,” he cautioned.
Navropio backs community-led conservation
Meanwhile, the Navropio, represented at the ceremony by Mr Felix Kondayire, has reaffirmed his support for the BULKONA CREMA, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among traditional authorities and communities in the management of natural resources.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Navropio, Mr Kondayire said the inauguration went beyond establishing an initiative, as it renewed the responsibility of traditional leaders to protect ancestral lands and the natural resources entrusted to their care.
He described land, forests, wildlife and water bodies as valuable resources that the present generation must preserve for those who come after them.
He commended the Wildlife Division and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the establishment of the CREMA, saying the model offered an opportunity to bring traditional leadership, local communities and conservation institutions together around a common objective.
“The true measure of traditional leadership lies not only in the heritage we inherit, but also in the legacy we preserve for posterity,” he stated.
Mr Kondayire urged the people of Builsa, Kologo, Naaga and Navrongo to support the initiative and work together to ensure that conservation efforts also contribute to sustainable livelihoods.
The inauguration of the BULKONA CREMA is expected to provide a platform for communities across the four traditional areas to participate in natural resource management and support efforts to prevent bushfires, deter illegal mining and conserve wildlife.
The success of the initiative will depend on sustained cooperation among traditional authorities, community members and relevant environmental institutions, as well as the effective enforcement of laws against activities that threaten the region’s natural resources.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Moses Anaba| Bolgatanga
