The Otumfuo Hiahene, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, has attributed the ascendancy of birth defects in new born babies in galamsey communities to the massive destruction of forest reserves and water bodies by illegal miners.
According to the Professor Of Orthopaedic Surgery, it is incumbent upon all Ghanaians to prioritize planting of trees frequently to avert the situation whereby greater number of pregnant women across the country in galamsey communities have had their newly born babies suffered from one or two congenital disorders due to the indiscriminate destruction of our water bodies and forest reserves caused by illegal miners.
“Galamsey has destroyed our lands, water bodies, it has contributed to famine in the country, our water treatment plants are no longer able to treat our water, thereby causing water scarcity, and should this be neglected Ghanaians will resort to bathing with bottled water.The severe aspect of it all is the defects in new born babies in galamsey prone areas” he stressed.
He repeatedly called on Nananom, the security agencies, politicians, and all stakeholders to maximize their role in curbing illigal mining with its atrocities.
“Our forefathers practiced mining and it wasn’t grievous as we are witnessing today, so we have to find proper methods to carry out mining to protect our lands and water bodies.” he stated.
The Hiahene, who championed the cultivation of trees as he represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, at Ahafo ano Sout- West district on Friday, 10TH June 2024, pleaded with Nananom, Assembly members, and forest officials in the Mankranso enclave to keep a close eye on the trees planted to making sure more than 70% of trees planted at Nyamebekyere and Kunsu survive.
In addition, the District Manager of the Mankranso Forest District, Mr. Ishmael Boakye Agyemang, expressed the district’s commitment to planting an exceeding target of 258,950 seedlings to complementing the 10 million estimated national target in the 2024 planting exercise. He stated that over 150,000 seedlings were successfully planted across the district as at 3PM on Friday.
He also expressed worry over the activities of illegal mining on the forest reserves in the district as he pleaded with illegal miners to also consider the effects of their actions on innocent souls.
The Otumfuo Hiahene, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie- Adjei Woahene II during the 2024 planting exercise which was held at Onyinanufu, a village in the Ahafo Ano South West district, was accompanied by chief of Kunsu,Nana Agyemang Badu-Duah, Nana Ampofo Twumasi III, chief of Mpasaaso No2, chiefs and elders of Onyinanufu, and police officials.
The District Chief Executive(DCE) Hon. Joseph Bonsu, who couldn’t make it to the tree planting exercise was represented by the Presiding Member, Hon. Prince Oppong, and host of assembly members. Others included CEO’s of private organizations within the Ahafo Ano South West district.
