Sakumo Ramsar Site: Nungua Mantse warns against fake land transactions

The Nungua Mantse, Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, has denied authorising the sale of any land within the Sakumo Ramsar Site, urging the public to disregard any land documents bearing what appears to be his signature.

Speaking during a consultative meeting between the Forestry Commission and the Nungua Traditional Council at the Nungua Mantse Palace, the Paramount Chief said he had neither approved nor signed any document relating to the sale of land within the protected wetland.

"I have never authorised the sale of any land within the Sakumo Ramsar Site," he declared.

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He cautioned the public against dealing with individuals or groups claiming to sell plots within the Ramsar Site, describing such transactions as fraudulent.

"I am committed to the conservation of the Ramsar Site because the protection of the wetland remains essential for the well-being of both present and future generations," he said.

The Nungua Mantse reaffirmed his commitment to supporting efforts to protect the internationally recognised wetland, stressing that illegal encroachment on the site was a crime against nature.

He also assured the Forestry Commission that the Nungua Traditional Council would work with the commission to safeguard the Ramsar Site.

"Nungua is our only homeland and we have nowhere else to go. That is why we must all support efforts to protect natural reserves that will enable us to live in harmony with nature," he said.

The meeting, led by the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown, formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between the commission and traditional authorities to address increasing encroachment on the Sakumo Ramsar Site.

Dr Brown urged traditional authorities to play a more active role in protecting natural reserves, describing the Sakumo Ramsar Site as an important ecological resource that provides flood control, supports biodiversity and sustains local livelihoods.

He explained that the wetland's core zone serves as a major water retention area, while the buffer zone absorbs excess water and helps maintain the ecological integrity of the site.

Dr Brown also warned prospective land buyers against purchasing land within the protected area.

The Sakumo Ramsar Site has come under increasing pressure from illegal encroachment in recent years, particularly by estate developers and private individuals. The Forestry Commission has undertaken demolition exercises and public education campaigns to curb the practice.

Ghana became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1988, and the Sakumo Ramsar Site has been under the protection and management of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission since 1999.

The wetland is internationally recognised for its ecological importance, serving as a habitat for migratory birds while playing a key role in flood mitigation and environmental conservation.