When parts of Ghana's Eastern Region were devastated by floods not too long ago, those of us who for over a decade and a half, have risked life and limb, fighting the rampant illegal logging and surface gold mining carried out there without valid Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits, were not in the least bit surprised that such a catastrophe should occur over a widespread area, in that part of Ghana - particularly in Akyem Abuakwa.
Perhaps in expressing his anger at the wanton destruction of the area's natural heritage, resulting from the illegal activities accelerating the depletion of the remainder of Akyem Abuakwa's forest cover, President Mills must have realised that despite all the effort being made by his regime to halt the operations of the wealthy criminal syndicates, which fund the illegal logging and surface gold mining in Akyem Abuakwa, the depletion of the rain forest there continues apace, in relentless fashion.
Clearly, there is an urgent need to exploit the area's undoubted potential for a thriving nature-focused community-based eco-tourism industry, as that unquestionably is the most effective conservation tool that society can use as an incentive to interest grass-roots people in protecting a natural resource potentially worth billions of dollars, over the coming decades, for present and future generations.
With the best will in the world, if things are allowed to remain as they are, the poorly-resourced state agencies tasked to protect the remainder of Ghana's natural heritage, such as the Forestry Service of the Forestry Commission and the EPA, will continue to be overwhelmed by the scale of the problem.
Some of us have learnt, over the years, through bitter experience, not to rely on any of the aforementioned state agencies, in our quest to save the area that covers the privately-owned freehold rain forest land-holding that we have christened the Akyem Abuakwa Juaso Nature-Resource Reserve (AAJNRR).
Having worked hard for over a decade and a half, to get to the point where there is now an opportunity to build a forest canopy walkway and a number of eco-lodges in it, as the centrepiece of what we are determined will be a world-class eco-tourism destination, which will help educate visitors and local people about the wonders of nature - some found nowhere else in the world - in what is part of a designated Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), one has no intention of allowing those professionals privy to our plans - because we consulted some of them along the way - who have already started to sabotage our proposed project, and are apparently working on similar plans of their own with others, using information and contacts gained from their association with us, to get away with their perfidy.
They must understand that we are a pretty determined lot - and that nothing, including being stabbed in the back by such unethical and shabby behaviour, will stop us achieving our dream.
The people of Akyem Abuakwa Juaso too, deserve a better quality of life and have a right to also enjoy a high standard of living - all of which such a project will make possible for them: and we will make sure that that eventually happens, regardless, despite the shenanigans of selfish people who put profits ahead of human life, and neither care one jot about preserving nature, nor about the welfare of their fellow human beings, as long as they can make a quick buck.
And to those well-meaning professional advisors who think it is unwise to openly talk about our aforementioned plans, why hide something so noble and meant for the common good, I ask? After all, this is not just any old profit-seeking private initiative, driven by greed, is it?
Is the very basis for the new burgeoning green economy, not caring business undertakings, which are underpinned by an ethos of transparency and accountability?
And if more large privately-owned rain forest land-holdings ended up being transformed into world-class community-based eco-tourism destinations, as a conservation measure in partnership with local communities, would that not protect the remainder of Ghana's natural heritage - and guarantee rural dwellers higher living standards too? So what's the big deal - if others learn of our plans, I ask?
On the contrary, our AAJNRR project is a shining example of the infinite wealth-generating possibilities offered by fostering a new green nature-based economy in rural Ghana, which generates wealth on a sustainable basis - in a unique conservation partnership between environmentally responsible private landowners and the poor cocoa-farming community they are an integral part of: and who have been major players in the local economy since 1915, from the days when the British occupied our country, and exploited the natural resources Providence blessed it so abundantly with.
I shall fight all those selfish individuals (including the faceless and greedy cowards in Ofori Panin Fie - busy undermining their hard-working tribal Chieftain's legacy in conservation, surreptitiously!) who seek to sabotage our dream - and I am serving them notice, with this piece. Let them beware - I never give up and always fight to win, too. I may look old and frail, but I am a pretty tough customer, I'll have them know. I fear nothing - and fear nobody. A word to the wise...
Tel (Powered by Tigo - the one mobile phone network in Ghana that actually works!): + 233 (0) 27 745 3109.
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