A member of the National Communication Team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Gabriella Tetteh, is proposing legislation against deforestation to ensure the success of the Green Ghana Project.
She said given Ghanaians attitude toward illegally cutting down trees, the legislation will penalise individuals fond of engaging in deforestation.
The Akufo-Addo government under the Green Ghana Project targeted to preserve and protect the country’s forest cover and the environment at large planted five million trees across the country on Friday, June 11.
Speaking after planting a tree at the forecourt of the Jubilee House, as part of the nationwide exercise, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said the Green Ghana Day initiative will not be a one-off event.
The President stressed the need to restore the country’s lost forest cover.
“There is an urgent need to reverse the trend and restore our forest resources as much as possible back to their original state. We do not have tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to do this. We have to act now,” he said.
Ms. Gabriella, speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Monday, June 14, said to achieve maximum success with the Green Ghana Project, a law must be passed to prosecute persons engaged in the illegal felling of trees.
“We need a system in this county that actually protects our trees. With this Green Ghana Project let’s assume in ten-fifteen years’ time our trees have grown, matured. But for me, I will not be surprised that a number of years we will be the same people who will happily cut down these trees because of our own attitude,” Gabriella argued.
She further said due to some trees’ numerous economic benefits government should enact a law to halt illegal logging.
“We should have a system in place that makes it unlawful to just cut down trees. For me specifically, especially commercial trees like rubber, cocoa oil palm, and other trees like mahogany and Wawa, etc. All these economically valuable trees should be protected by law.
“I always make reference to Malaysia. It makes Euros with Palm because the tree is protected by law. Even in your own farm, you can’t cut down that tree unless you seek permission to cut the tree due to the benefits it gives the Malaysian economy. We should learn to protect our trees and back it with law,” she said.
By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
