The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Mr Charles Abani, announces a 2.3 million dollar grant in support of the program: Fostering Reforestation, Environmental Sustainability and Tourism in the Okyeman Area (FOREST Okyeman) in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The grant is to support biodiversity conservation in five of the 14 districts of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area in the Eastern Region.
Mr Abani said the project will support local indigenes to plant three million trees over the next three years to restore degraded landscapes and create awareness on best agroforestry practices in the region. This, he stated when he led a delegation of the UN in Ghana to pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin at his Palace in Kyebi in the Eastern Region.
“Over the three-year period, the programme is expected to benefit over 1.3 million people (671,921 women and 505,907 children between the ages of 0-14 years). It will span across five out of the 14 districts in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area of the Eastern Region.”
Mr Abani
Meanwhile, Mr Abani noted that the project is one of the many to be carried out to support the people of Okyeman.
“We acknowledge that this is a drop in the ocean. However, our hope is that it will support and empower local structures to respond to some of these challenges and help leverage the opportunity to mobilize more resources.”
Mr Abani
He further revealed that the goal is to plant fast maturing tree species that can be harvested periodically for its economic benefits and regrown and establish renewable forestry plantations for the communities.
He thus, asserted that livelihood is a critical issue. Also, he observed that an absence of it forced many into illegal mining and exploitation of the natural resources. He averred that the programme would explore and establish community-based alternative livelihood interventions for youth, women and the vulnerable population. This will be achieved by piloting the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism in consultation with local groups, and the Okyeman Environment Foundation.
“We would build capacity of local structures to make considerable investment in the reforestation programme and manage their natural resources.”
Mr Abani
Mr Abani commended the Okyenhene for his active work, particularly through the Okyeman Environment Foundation, to address issues related to the environment, health and education.
Moreover, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, also stated that climate change was real and that it was high time to act to save the earth from further destruction.
He noted that his forbearers knew the importance of conserving nature, that was why they prevented people from farming close to river banks and other water bodies.
With regards to mining in forest areas and the Okyenhene said he was against illegal mining many years ago since he ascended the throne as Okyehene.
“Twenty years ago when I came on (the throne), we were talking about bauxite, I informed the Government that we don’t need bauxite exploration. This country has been mining for over a hundred years, and look at this; what we have to show is destruction, all kinds of respiratory diseases that come to our people.”
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin
He further suggested that to ensure sustainability of the nation’s rich natural resources and biodiversity, there is a need for local community ownership in their management.
Meanwhile, the grant is made up of one million dollars from the UN Human Security Trust Fund to implement development initiatives together with the Okyeman Environment Foundation and other stakeholders.
However, it will be supported with co-funding of another $1.3 million dollars from the participating UN Agencies. The agencies include: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Also, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme together with OEF, to address multiple development issues and provide an impetus to sustain the process.
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