On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Hon. Addo-Donkor Everson convened a meeting with Nananom (traditional leaders) and other key stakeholders to discuss the recent fire outbreak in the Bonya forest, which devastated its vegetation. The purpose of the meeting was to identify the root cause of the fire and develop effective strategies to prevent future fires in the forest reserve.
The meeting included several notable attendees, including Nana Frimpong Boakye Yiadom, Nana Serwaa Kukurowa, Hon. Thomas Archie (Bonya Assembly Member), Hon. Sumaila Adam Asubingya (Assembly Member), staff from the Assembly, a representative from NADMO, and the District Fire Commander.
Hon. Addo-Donkor Everson expressed his concern over the fire, calling the situation “devastating and worrying.” He noted that the fire had affected fast-growing trees that were part of a larger effort to restore the forest. He highlighted that significant progress had been made in replanting trees as part of the Green Ghana Day program in 2022, during which the Techiman North District participated in a nationwide tree-planting initiative. The Bonya-Mprisi sacred grove, chosen for the event due to its ecological value, was expected to benefit from the planting of 1.2 million trees, with the goal of restoring the forest to its natural state.
The Bonya forest has been a reserved area for over 300 years, but human activities have led to the loss of some plant species. To restore its ecological balance, the tree planting initiative aimed to reintroduce a diverse range of flora.
During the meeting, several suggestions were made to address the fire issue. Nananom proposed the creation of a committee to investigate the cause of the fire and make recommendations for preventing future incidents. Mad. Faustina Amadu, the District Planning Officer, emphasized the economic value of the forest and the need to protect it. She suggested that the community be educated on the economic benefits of forests, including their role in sustaining rainfall for agriculture.
As a result of the meeting, a seven-member ad-hoc committee, with two co-opted members from the Assembly, was established. The committee, chaired by Nana Frimpong Boakye Yiadom, was tasked with investigating the fire and submitting a report on the findings. The committee’s goal is to uncover the root cause of the fire outbreak and recommend solutions.
In closing, Hon. Addo-Donkor Everson thanked all participants for attending the meeting and expressed his hope that the ad-hoc committee would successfully carry out its investigation and provide valuable insights into preventing future fires in the forest.
