When I posted a version of an email I sent to the U.S. environmental activist group, Mighty Earth, on this blog a few days ago, I wanted to send a clear message to the hypocrites who are profiting from the destruction of the Atewa Range upland evergreen rainforest: that battle was now joined in ernest.
It so happens that yesterday, Mighty Earth's Mrs. Etelle Gigonett, accompanied a small team - put together for the purpose - to my family's14-square freehold upland evergreen rainforest property in the Akyem Juaso section of that unique and priceless rainforest that is a treasure trove of nature (natural capital that is probably worth trillions of cedis).
Alas, when we got there, we were horrified to discover that over two hundred very valuable hardwood trees had been felled in our land - and quite recently too. And to think that Ghana has signed on to the UN SDGs - and that its president co-chairs the Group of eminent individuals selected by the UN Secretary General to help ensure the implementation of all the SDGs.
What is going on in the Atewa Range upland evergreen rainforest really is outrageous - especially when President Akufo-Addo has dedicated himself to protecting what is left of our nation's natural heritage for future generations. The Forestry Commission needs better leadership. John Owusu Afriyie is totally unsuitable to lead it. Full stop.
For me personally the felling of those trees represent a concerted assault on our dream to turn it into an eco-tourism destination with what is planned to be the world's longest forest canopy walkway as its centrepiece attraction that will serve as a platform for biodiversity researchers - and a living laboratory for second-cycle and tertiary students on field-study trips there.
Most of the trees that will hold and support the bridges of the forest canopy walkway have been deliberately targetted and felled. Those behind that abomination will be eventually exposed. They will never get away with this monstrous crime.
It is obvious that those who have lined up to gang-rape Mother Nature so brutally don't want tourists - domestic and foreign - to see the abominable and egregious destruction of an amazing and awe-inspiring rainforest that has evolved over millions of years.
Well, actually, Kofi Thompson never despairs. He sees opportunities in every 'disaster' tjat befalls him - they have reckoned without one's determination and sense of imagination.
Henceforth, we will definitely make sure that even just as it presently is, our Akyem Juaso upland evergreen rainforest property becomes a much-sought-after open and rustic rainforest venue in which people who are keen to protect the remainder of Ghana's natural heritage hike to the top of the mountain to see its breathtaking beauty and sit on logs in the open to share ideas and hold strategy sessions.
We will also work with global environmental campaign groups (in the Mighty Earth mould), to get satellite video streaming companies such as Urthecast and DigitalGlobe Inc. to beam livestreamed video of what after all is our private property in great detail - such that it clearly shows the faces of those illegally felling trees and mining gold in it illegally - on a dedicated YouTube channel as their contribution to saving forests in humankind's one biosphere through satellite digital vigilance, as a CSR.
We will then see just how long the crafty and corrupt ones amongst the Fanteakwa District's Forestry Commission's officials will continue to sleepwalk and play their much-loved and financially rewarding three-monkeys-game whiles a valuable rainforest is steadily decimated by selfish people driven by unfathomable greed: a crime against humanity if ever there was one.
The Chiefs, Elders and people of Akyem Juaso say a big thank you to Mighty Earth for their swift show of solidarity with us.
They have indeed proved that theirs is an NGO that actually cares about and supports vulnerable communities across the globe - in sharp contrast to those NGOs that raise funds just to pay huge salaries to their staff members whiles very little of those cash donations actually go to their target groups.
Finally, to all those powerful and hypocritical individuals amongst our nation's elities busy destroying Akyem Abuakwa for fat profits at the expense of our future generations, this blog says defiantly: Okyenman, yen enma ensei da!
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