Plant Bamboo Trees on Reclaimed Galamsey Sites – NGO

Partners of Nature Africa (PONA), a non-governmental Organization in afforestation and rejuvenation, has appealed to government to plant bamboo trees on reclaimed galamsey sites in the country.

Speaking at a Bamboo Forum and exhibition in Accra, Mr. Forster Amofah, the Director of Operations of Partners of Nature Africa, stated that, “considering the ecological, economic, artistic and medicinal advantages of bamboo, it is in the interest of the country to adopt the plant at the various sites in the country.”

The fight against galamsey by the Akufo-Addo led government commenced last year to end illegal mining in the country.

So far, government has been able to reclaim majority of the lands after embarking on the exercise with the help of the taskforce.

However, the reclaimed galamsey sites have been left abandoned.

Mr. Amofah believes adopting bamboo on these abandoned sites would cause a major boost to the economy.

Currently, bamboo is being used in the production of bicycles, crafts, building and many more in the country, with some companies raking in profits from its usage.

It comes in some 1250 species with some being used in furniture and building infrastructure such as cathedrals. Ghana currently has 680 of those varieties.

PONA, therefore has appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) to create a value chain system that link communities planting bamboo on reclaimed lands with producers of bamboo products as booster to the industry.

The forum brought together various industry players and stakeholders to network and find means of maximizing the benefits of the bamboo plant.

The aim of PONA is to protect the environment of the rural areas, improve the quality of lives of people living in rural communities through proper environmental practices and projects that would make them self-sufficient.

It seeks to restore and rejuvenate depleted and degraded natural resources of the nation and the world at large.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum