Question Akufo-Addo’s intention to mine bauxite in Atewa - Coalition urges Ghanaians

Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu has entreated Ghanaians to add their voices to A Rocha Ghana and Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape to stop government’s intention of mining bauxite in the Atewa Forest.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo’s plan of mining bauxite in Atewa would have adverse effect on the environment, thus, needs to rescind his decision to save the environment from becoming deplorable in future.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Bosu stated that “There’s nothing sustainable and responsible about mining bauxite in a watershed like Atewa Forest”.

“Where is the legitimacy when this process is shrouded with secrecy, total neglect and disrespect of voices that oppose the manner in which you are seeking to implement these agenda,” he quizzed.

He added that, the president has disrespected the voices of millions asking him to exempt Atewa forest from his bauxite agenda, yet, keeps telling Ghanaians of employing international best practices.

Mr Bosu noted that mining bauxite in such a watershed forest requires the removal of vegetation, habitat and the top soil hence, the president’s claim of not harming wildlife is just a mirage.

“According to the Minerals Commission, the bauxite deposits in Atewa are found in a seam on average 6 metres thick, just 1.5 to 3 metres below the surface. Strip mining is the only way to mine Ghana’s bauxite due to its closeness to the surface. This method removes all vegetation, habitats and top soil, while the rock beneath is then broken up with explosives. A clear example of the destruction that is caused to forests by bauxite mining is Ghana’s existing bauxite mine at Awaso in the Western Region, now a desert of red mud that replaced once thick forest,” he stated.

The group also called on President Akufo-Addo, who doubles as the co-chair for the Sustainable Development Goals Advocates not “to just talk about promises of pursuing environmental sustainability, but importantly to ensure that our development plans actually reflect this big talk”.

On the other hand, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given assurance to Ghanaians that the government’s plan to have bauxite mined in the country’s largest surviving natural rainforest, the Atewa forest, will not in any way destroy the environment.

He believes that the technology to be adopted by the miners would reduce the impact of the mining activity on the quality of life of persons whose livelihoods depend on the forest’s resources.

President Akufo-Addo made this statement during the Sustainable Ocean Industries Conference organised under the auspices of the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Aker Energy and the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana.