Eco-Conscious Citizens has renewed its campaign for the Atewa Forest Reserve to be declared a National Park, unveiling a public awareness banner on the Spintex Road in Accra.
The banner, unveiled on Monday, August 17, forms part of the group’s #AtewaMatters campaign, which seeks stronger protection for the forest against illegal mining, logging and other forms of environmental degradation.
The group says the campaign has gained momentum following an appeal by schoolchildren to President John Dramani Mahama to grant Atewa Forest National Park status.
During the unveiling, representatives of Eco-Conscious Citizens engaged members of the public and the media on the importance of protecting the forest.
The organisation says the forest is the source of three major rivers that provide water to more than five million people, including households in Accra.
Eco-Conscious Citizens Executive Director, Awula Serwah, previously explained to pupils at Cuddle Bliss Montessori School that “it’s never too early to teach our children about the environment, its importance to us, and our responsibilities to it.”
The pupils later added their voices to the campaign, thanking President Mahama for revoking Executive Instrument 144, which had declassified parts of the Achimota Forest, before urging him “to please declare Atewa Forest a National Park.”
The group believes national park status would give Atewa stronger legal protection and help safeguard its biodiversity and water resources.
Atewa Forest is recognised as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area and is considered an important ecological asset because of its rich biodiversity and role in Ghana’s water supply.
Eco-Conscious Citizens is also using the banner campaign to encourage more people to sign its petition calling for the forest to be declared a National Park.
The petition is expected to be formally presented to President Mahama in November.
The organisation is inviting members of the public and environmental advocates to support the campaign by signing the petition and joining the wider #AtewaMatters movement.
