Festival participants in a group photo
It has emerged that illegal gold mining activities also called ‘galamsey’ at Cape-Three-Points, a coastal community in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, have caused drastic decline in aquatic life along the coast.
Aside the illegal mining activities, there are many poaching incidents involving sea turtles, all of which are contributing to the decline of species along the coast.
This was revealed at the 4th Eco Awareness Festival organised by Ghana Instinct, a non-governmental organization (NGO) at Cape -Three-Points.
The festival was to create awareness on the need to protect one of West Africa’s last remaining coastal forests, safeguard endangered sea turtles, and create sustainable livelihoods for the local people who call the sea their home.
It brought together local residents and environmental experts as well as other visitors including foreign volunteers and school children who performed a drama on adverse effects of illegal mining.
There was also surfing competition and tours to various eco sites.
Ghana Wildlife Society representative, Solomon Kanyezu, said available data shows that many species have declined in number due to environmental challenges at Cape-Three-Points.
He noted that galamsey activities are damaging the virgin ecosystem, causing extensive environmental devastation including habitat destruction and water pollution.
Mr. Solomon Kenyezu noted that his organisation is aware of the massive illegal logging and other activities in the Cape-Three-Points forest reserves, which hinder species recovery and conservation efforts.
According to him, many species, such as sea turtles, and key terrestrial species like birds and monkeys, are declining.
He encouraged other stakeholders and institutions to build synergy to ensure effective protection of species within their lands.
“The Wildlife Society is working with communities and the marine police to arrest poachers targeting sea turtles on the beaches”, he revealed.
The co-founder of Ghana Instinct, Akwesi Keith Amoako Agyeman McLaren, revealed that, the beach at Cape-Three-Points, is under threat by the activities of galamsey.
He added that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force have been deployed to the forest in the community, and the MP for the area, Mavis Kuukua Bissue has pledged her support to help protect the area.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi