The Twafoɔhene of the Bekwai Traditional Area, Nana Boampim Perko II, has urged the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to temporarily shut down the country’s forest reserves for four years as part of a decisive effort to reverse years of ecological decline.
The appeal was made on Tuesday during the handing over and inauguration ceremony of ten forest protection camps and two checkpoint camps at the Oda River Forest Reserve near Numereso in the Amansie Central District.
Speaking on behalf of the Omanhene of the Bekwai Traditional Council, Nana Boampim Perko II said Ghana’s forests were facing unprecedented destruction from illegal mining, indiscriminate logging, hunting, and other human activities.
“Our forests are dying gradually, and if we do not take drastic decisions today, future generations may not have any forest resources left to depend on,” he warned.
The chief proposed adopting a strategy similar to the closed fishing season enforced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
He argued that a temporary ban on all activities within forest reserves would allow vegetation, wildlife, and ecosystems time to regenerate naturally.
Under the proposed four-year closure, he said, no individual or group should be permitted to enter the reserves for farming, weeding, logging, hunting, or any commercial purpose.
He compared the measure to the annual fishing ban, which he said gives fingerlings and marine species the opportunity to mature and replenish fish stocks.
Nana Boampim Perko II stressed that Ghana’s forest reserves are more than economic assets. He described them as critical environmental resources that regulate climate, preserve water sources, influence rainfall patterns, and protect biodiversity.
Despite ongoing interventions by government and security agencies, he noted that illegal activities such as galamsey and unauthorized lumbering continue to threaten reserves, particularly in mining-prone areas of the Ashanti Region.
He called for consistent enforcement of the law and urged authorities to ensure that offenders are prosecuted without political interference or external influence.
“Government’s efforts to combat illegal mining and forest destruction will only succeed if laws are applied fairly and decisively,” he said. “Strict punishment for offenders will serve as a strong deterrent to others.”
The newly inaugurated protection and checkpoint camps are intended to strengthen surveillance around the Oda River Forest Reserve and prevent further encroachment.
The initiative seeks to enhance monitoring operations while fostering collaboration between traditional authorities, forestry officials, security agencies, and local communities.
The ceremony drew traditional leaders, forestry officials, security personnel, local government representatives, and residents from surrounding communities, all of whom reiterated the need for stronger environmental protection measures nationwide.
Environmental advocates present at the event warned that illegal mining continues to pose a severe threat to water bodies, forest reserves, and agricultural lands, cautioning that Ghana risks long-term ecological damage if urgent action is not taken.
Nana Boampim Perko II’s proposal is expected to fuel national debate on sustainable forest management as Ghana confronts mounting concerns over environmental degradation and illegal resource exploitation.
