The Western North Region is witnessing a disturbing surge in insecurity, prompting the regional chapter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to call on President John Dramani Mahama, the Interior Minister, the Western North Regional Minister, security agencies, and all stakeholders to take immediate action to restore law and order.
In a statement issued by the Western North NPP Regional Secretary, Felix F. Ackah, the party expressed grave concern over the increasing acts of lawlessness and destruction, which they attribute to political impunity and greed.
According to the statement, the region’s security situation deteriorated following the declaration of the 2024 presidential election results by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The NPP claims that supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took matters into their own hands, engaging in violent attacks on pro-NPP businesses and individuals.
“Not long after the Police and other security agencies had tried their best to end the attacks, these unrepentant individuals turned their attention to our forests and water bodies, destroying them through illegal logging and mining,” the statement read.
Fatal clashes over Galamsey and Illegal Logging
The NPP noted that violent clashes between rival NDC groups over illegal mining (galamsey) and illegal timber operations have resulted in multiple deaths.
According to the statement, in January, a deadly confrontation between two rival NDC galamsey groups in the Tano Anwia forest in the Aowin Municipality (Enchi) led to the deaths of three individuals, leaving residents in fear of further retaliatory attacks.
However, the violence has continued, with another tragic incident occurring this week in the Sefwi Agyemadiem forest in the Juaboso District.
A clash between two illegal timber logging groups resulted in the deaths of more than six individuals, further underscoring the severity of the region’s security crisis.
Environmental Devastation and the Need for Urgent Intervention
Aside from the violence, the party also highlighted the devastating impact of illegal logging and galamsey on the region’s forest reserves and water bodies.
“The rapid increase in illegal timber logging and galamsey activities poses a severe threat to our forest reserves, putting at risk the future of our natural resources and environment,” the statement warned.
The NPP stressed that if immediate action is not taken, the region could lose all its forest reserves within the next year or two.
They called on local authorities to rigorously enforce forestry laws and collaborate with law enforcement agencies, traditional leaders (Nananom), and community leaders to address the crisis.
A Call on President Mahama to Take Immediate Action
The Western North NPP is urging President Mahama to take decisive steps to safeguard the region’s natural resources and restore peace and security.
“We urge His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to protect our environment, safeguard our natural resources, and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents in the Western North Region. The time for action is now,” the statement emphasized.
The party further called for increased education and awareness on environmental preservation and the consequences of illegal mining and logging activities.
Below is the full statement
INSECURITY IN THE WESTERN NORTH REGION TAKES ALARMING TREND; A CALL ON THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE ACTION
The Western North Regional Chapter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wishes to bring the attention of the President, the Interior Minister, the Western North Regional Minister, Heads of Security agencies, the Media and all concerned citizens to the rising state of insecurity in the Region borne out of political impunity and greed.
The situation has become increasingly alarming and demands an urgent action to protect lives and property.
Security in the entire region broke down immediately after the declaration of the 2024 presidential election results by the EC with stalwarts of the NDC taking matters into their own hands and acting with impunity.
Not long after the Police and other security agencies had tried their best to end the attacks on pro-NPP businesses and individuals in the region, these unrepentant guys turned their attention to the forests and water bodies, destroying them.
Almost all the forest reserves in the Region and river bodies are being ‘raped’ and destroyed by illegal logging and galamsey. What makes it more serious is the regular fatal clashes between various rival NDC groups on these galamsey sites and forests leading to death.
In January, a clash between two rival NDC galamsey groups in the Tano Anwia forest in Aowin Municipality(Enchi) led to the loss of 3 precious lives. For close to a month after that unfortunate incident, inhabitants lived in fear and panic considering the possibility of reprisal attacks. This incident, we believed, should have put an end to these lawless acts in the Region.
However, it is disheartening to note that it has not been given the serious attention it requires, despite the tragic loss of innocent lives.
This week, a clash between two illegal timber lumbering groups in the Sefwi Agyemadiem forest in the Sefwi Juaboso District, led to the deaths of more than six (6) individuals, highlighting the growing menace of illegal logging in our region.
The rapid increase in illegal timber logging and galamsey activities poses a severe threat to our forest reserves, putting at risk the future of our natural resources and environment. If this destructive trend continues unchecked, we run the risk of losing all our forest reserves within the next year
or two in the western north region.
It is imperative that we call upon all local authorities to enforce forestry laws rigorously to prevent further destruction of our precious natural resources and to combat the violence associated with these illegal activities in the region.
We urge all stakeholders, government agencies, law
enforcement, Nananom, and community leaders to come together and work collaboratively towards finding sustainable solutions to address the root causes of insecurity in our region.
We are calling for a drastic and immediate action to safeguard our forest reserves and water bodies from further harm through education and awareness creation on the importance of environmental preservation and the implications of illegal logging and mining activities.
We urge the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, to protect our environment, safeguard our natural resources, and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents in the Western North Region. The time for action is now, and together and we securing a sustainable future for our Region.
Thank you.
FELIX F. ACKAH
(Western North NPP REGIONAL SECRETARY)
