A youth group calling itself Concerned Youth for Sustainable Development in Gonjaland has petitioned the King and overlord of the Gonja kingdom, His Royal Majesty Jira Boresa Tuutumba (l), over a decision by the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs to open a one- month window for uncollected logs to be conveyed out of the Region.
The youth through a petition expressed dissatisfaction about the decision of the House of Chiefs which they said will give room for the continuation of the illegalities as in logging and burning of Charcoal in commercial quantities.
The Savannah Regional House of Chiefs through a press conference held at Bole on 5th July, 2021, opened a one- month window for loggers to convey their uncollected wood from the Region.
The period for conveying the logs from the region will open on July 12, 2021, and expected to be closed on August 11, 2021as announced by the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Council and Secretary of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs Committee on Environment, Abutu Kapori.
According to the Concerned youth,the decision by the House of Chiefs amounts to betrayal of trust and hence urged the Bolewura led committe on environment to withdraw and reverse the decision to open a one month window for loggers to convey already cut- logs with immediate effect.
The Concerned youth through their petition recommended that all mapped out areas where rosewood were confiscated should be made public.
The petition added that all traditional areas should name and commission to work their task forces as per the
requirements of the 10th May ban.
All rosewood confiscated should be declared and an alternative use be announced witth immediate effect with a suggested option to make desks for schools in Gonjaland should
be a priority, the petition indicated.
That an immediate afforestation program should be put together in collaboration with the forestry commission and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the reclamation of the degraded forest
cover in the land, the petition pointed out.
Illegal logging, charcoal burning, fuelwood harvesting and small scale mining activities in the Savannah Region were banned effective Monday, May 10, 2021, as part of measures geared toward preserving forest reserves as well as economically viable trees from being destroyed.
These activities, according to the Regional House of Chiefs, have resulted in the wanton depletion of the environmental cover in the region, hence the directive.
Source: yagbonradioonline
