Nana Serwaa Bruwaa II
Nana Serwaa Bruwaa II, Queenmother of the Akrokerri Divisional Council in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region, has been honoured by Crusaders of Change for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CCfESA), an organisation dedicated to protecting ecosystems and the natural environment.
This recognition is in honour of her “courageous leadership, innovative approach, and selfless commitment” to protecting water bodies, lands, ecosystems, forests, and the natural environment.
Founder and Leader of CCfESA, Owusu Appiah, disclosed that God made human beings the custodians of the environment, and hence the need to protect it.
He stressed that the preservation of the environment leads to a healthy life, and stated that “a country that destroys its soil, destroys itself.”
He noted that Nana Serwaa Bruwaa’s efforts in the fight against galamsey have been recognised on television and social media, aligning with the organisation’s mission, and this is the reason for her recognition.
The CCfESA founder described the queenmother as “a shining beacon of hope and transformation, whose tireless efforts and unwavering dedication have inspired a new wave of change-makers.”
Mr. Appiah also urged government officials to enforce “sanitation by-laws” to preserve water bodies, forests, lands, and ecosystems.
He further advised Nananom to take steps to fight illegal mining in their respective communities.
Receiving the award, Nana Serwaa Bruwaa II expressed her gratitude to CCfESA for recognising and acknowledging her efforts in the fight against galamsey.
Nana Bruwaa II debunked rumours of complicity in galamsey activities in the enclave, stating that her sole responsibility as a queenmother is to serve and protect her subjects as well as the stool lands entrusted to her care.
She stressed that these false allegations would not deter her, but rather encourage her to do more in the fight against the menace, which is destroying lands, the environment, ecosystems, and ultimately lives.
She stated that if she had excavators for galamsey, as her critics claimed, she would rather use them for the reclamation of lands destroyed by “galamseyers” in her enclave.
Nana Bruwaa II urged Nananom to take steps to reclaim lands by planting trees in the fight against galamsey in their respective communities.
She later posed with personnel from CCfESA and INEC. Meanwhile, the Institute of Nature and Environmental Conservation (INEC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on conserving biodiversity (plants and animals) facing critical threats from human activities, has joined forces with her to protect endangered plant and animal species as well as the environment.
Nana Serwaa Bruwaa II was adjudged the Best Farmer of the Adansi North District during the 39th Farmers’ Day Celebration in 2023.
She has a diverse agricultural portfolio, which includes over 4,000 layer birds, six fish ponds with 12,500 catfish and 8,500 tilapia, 15 acres of plantain, 1,200 rubber trees, and involvement in vegetable farming, oil palm processing, and various farming ventures.
She has also planted over 10,000 trees, including Cedrela (over 2,000), Mahogany (4,500), Elm (1,700), and Ofam (3,000).
In her own small way, the queenmother has employed “ex-galamseyers” to work on various farms to earn a living, having also reclaimed abandoned open lands in her enclave.
Additionally, Nana Serwaa Bruwaa II has been actively engaged in sensitising residents and communities on the “adverse impacts” of illegal mining on the environment and health.
A Daily Guide Report