A Rocha Ghana demands urgent action against tree felling along Atomic-Kwabenya highway

Environmental advocacy organisation, A Rocha Ghana has issued a strong call to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to immediately stop the ongoing and indiscriminate felling of trees along the Atomic-Kwabenya highway in Accra.

The group warns that the continued destruction of this critical green corridor poses a serious threat to Accra’s environment, urban health, and climate resilience.

In a statement issued and signed by Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, the organisation condemned what it described as “environmental sabotage” and an “unjustifiable assault on urban greenery.”

The tree-lined stretch along the Atomic-Kwabenya road is regarded as one of the last remaining tree arcades in the capital’s fast-changing urban landscape. Activists say its destruction undermines efforts to promote sustainable development and protect biodiversity in the city.

Last year, two trees were reportedly cut down to make way for a fuel station near the Maker’s House Chapel, a move said to have been supported by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.

The location of the station in what activists say is a sensitive wetland has drawn sharp criticism.

The station, said to be located in a sensitive wetland area between the Atomic Police Station and the entrance to the Atomic Energy Commission, has sparked outrage among environmental groups.

“This development is very unfortunate and needless,” the statement said, noting that earlier road construction in the area had been paused and redesigned following public pressure to protect the trees.

According to A Rocha Ghana, allowing other actors to gradually destroy the trees after such concessions is not only counterproductive but also irresponsible.

The group is calling for a clear, enforceable plan for replanting and maintaining the green cover, insisting that if trees must be cut, they should be replaced with at least two native species. It also stressed the need for strict monitoring to ensure their survival.

“The lazy approach of cutting down trees at the slightest hazard is not prudent or progressive for urban forest maintenance and the health of people living in our cities,” the statement warned.

The call-to-action underscores growing concerns over the balance between infrastructure development and environmental protection in Accra. A Rocha Ghana is urging government agencies and developers to adopt more proactive and ecologically responsible planning approaches that preserve urban greenery while supporting progress.