According to the group, a man identified as Prince Kegya—allegedly well-connected and known for previous illegal mining—has approached traditional leaders in a bid to acquire 800 acres of land within the protected forest.

Investigations at the Minerals Commission’s regional office in Koforidua confirmed that no license has been issued to him, making any such activity unlawful.

The youth emphasized that Sagyimase serves as the main entry point to the Atewa Forest, making their resistance critical in preventing environmental destruction.

The Atewa Forest, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot, is home to several endangered species and is the source of three major rivers—Birim, Ayensu, and Densu—that supply drinking water to over five million people. It also plays a vital role in climate regulation and supports local livelihoods.

The group outlined the severe risks of mining in the forest, including water pollution, health hazards, destruction of agriculture, and long-term damage to Ghana’s economy and global biodiversity.

They are calling on the government, the Minerals Commission, and other authorities to immediately halt all mining-related activities, declare Atewa a National Park, and promote sustainable alternatives such as eco-tourism and scientific research.

“We will resist any attempt to destroy the Atewa Forest through all legal, advocacy, and community mobilization means,” the group vowed.

Read the statement below:

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED BY THE CONCERNED YOUTH OF AKYEM SAGYEMANSE ON THE IMMINENT DESTRUCTION OF THE ATEWA FOREST THROUGH ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES

ATEWA FOREST UNDER THREAT

Date:  Monday, 2^nd June 2025
Location: Sagyemanse, Atewa, Akyem Abuakwa, Eastern Region, Ghana

We, the concerned youth of Sagyemanse, representing the chiefs, farmers, traditional leaders, environmental activists, youth groups, and civil society organisations, hereby issue this communiqué to express our vehement opposition to the planned destructive and illegal mining activities in the Atewa Forest Reserve.

Background

About two months before this publication, the concerned citizens of Sagyemanse received intel that a man notorious for destructive illegal mining had approached the chief of Sagyemanse with the intention to acquire eight hundred acres of land solely for illegal mining within the restricted Atewa Forest.

This man whose name is given only as Prince Kegya is said to be the son of the recently deceased Amankrado of Bodua and also a native of Bodua, a man highly connected in the corridors of power and impossible to bring to book.

The proposed activities of this man by name Prince if told, would be catastrophic to the people of Sagyemanse, Akyem Abuakwa and Ghana as a whole. In view of that, the Youth of Sagyemanse conducted searches at the Regional Office of the Minerals Commission in Koforidua to ascertain if indeed the Government had given this individual the required license to mine in the restricted Atewa Forest.

The Regional Office of the Minerals Commission in Koforidua responded promptly and informed the concerned Youth that no such license had been granted to the said Prince Kegya and if found within the restricted forest reserve he should be arrested and handed over to the police.

It of utmost important to note that Sagyemanse is both the ancestral and geographical entrance to the Atewa forest and as such any person seeking to enter the forest with heavy machinery must of necessity use the Sagyemanse route. Mr. Prince Kegya is therefore leaving no stone unturned and moving heaven and high waters to enter and destroy the Atewa forest in his selfish bid to enrich himself at the expense of the entire nation.

The concerned Youth of Sagyemanse have sworn that they will never allow any individual or corporate entity into the Atewa forest to mine and this is because the importance of the Atewa forest to the people of Sagyemanse and to the Globe at large cannot be overemphasized.

The Atewa Range Forest Reserve (also known as Atiwa-Atwiredu) was established as a Forest Reserve in 1926 under British colonial rule, it was originally protected due to its rich biodiversity and critical watershed functions.

The Atewa Forest is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot, home to endangered species, vital water sources, and a critical carbon sink that mitigates climate change. It serves as the headwaters for three major rivers—the Birim, Ayensu, and Densu—which provide drinking water for over 5 million Ghanaians and support agriculture and livelihoods across multiple regions.

• Pre-Colonial & Colonial Era: The forest was traditionally revered by the Akyem people as a sacred landscape, providing medicinal plants, clean water, and hunting grounds. Colonial authorities later recognized its ecological value and designated it a reserve.
• Post-Independence: After Ghana’s independence in 1957, the forest remained protected, but logging and illegal mining began to encroach on its boundaries.

Global Ecological Importance of Atewa Forest

The Atewa Forest is recognized internationally as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), an Important Bird Area (IBA), and one of the world’s most critical ecosystems due to:

1. Unique Biodiversity & Endemic Species

• Rare Wildlife: Atewa is home to 50 mammal species, 1,000+ butterfly species, and 230 bird species, including the endangered white-naped mangabey and Roloway monkey.
• Endemic Species: It hosts species found nowhere else on Earth, such as the Afia Birago puddle frog (Conraua sagyimase) and the Atewa dotted border butterfly (Mylothris atewa).
• Botanical Riches: Over 1,100 plant species thrive here, including medicinal plants used in traditional medicine.

1. Vital Watershed for Millions

• Three Major Rivers originate from Atewa:
  • Birim River (supports cocoa farming and communities in the Eastern Region)
  • Ayensu River (critical for irrigation and drinking water in Central Ghana)
  • Densu River (provides 30% of Accra’s water supply via the Weija Dam)
• Over 5 million Ghanaians depend on these rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and livelihoods.

1. Climate Change Mitigation

• Atewa acts as a carbon sink, absorbing CO₂ and helping Ghana meet its Paris Agreement commitments.
• Deforestation would release stored carbon, worsening climate change impacts like droughts and extreme weather.

1. Global Conservation Recognition

• Listed as one of the 200 most important ecological zones on Earth by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
• Designated an Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site, meaning its destruction could cause irreversible species loss.

Despite its ecological importance, there are various attempts to enter into the forest and engage in various destructive mining activities which threatens to destroy this irreplaceable natural heritage.

Mining in the Atewa Forest would have catastrophic consequences for local communities, Ghana’s economy, and global biodiversity. Below is a detailed breakdown of the dangers posed by bauxite and other mining activities in this critical ecosystem.

1. Immediate Threats to Local Communities (Akyem Abuakwa & Eastern Region)
2. Water Crisis & Pollution

• Loss of Clean Drinking Water: Atewa is the source of three major rivers (Birim, Densu, Ayensu) supplying water to over 5 million Ghanaians. Mining will contaminate these rivers with toxic chemicals like cyanide, mercury, and heavy metals, leading to:
  • Poisoned water supplies (causing diseases like cancer, kidney failure, and birth defects).
  • Collapse of agriculture (farmers relying on these rivers for irrigation will lose livelihoods).
  • Increased water shortages in Accra (Densu River provides 30% of Accra’s water via Weija Dam).

1. Destruction of Livelihoods

• Farmers & Fishermen: Mining will pollute soils and rivers, killing fish and making farmland infertile.
• Herbalists & Traditional Healers: Over 100 medicinal plant species will be destroyed, eroding local healthcare systems.
• Tourism & Eco-Jobs: Atewa supports eco-tourism, research, and honey production—all threatened by mining.

1. Health Risks from Toxic Mining Waste

• Bauxite mining releases radioactive materials (uranium & thorium) and heavy metals like lead and arsenic.
• Respiratory diseases (silicosis, asthma) from dust pollution.
• Increased malaria & waterborne diseases due to stagnant mining pits breeding mosquitoes.

1. Displacement & Social Conflict

• Communities near Atewa (e.g., Osino, Sagyimase, Bunso) face forced evictions.
• Land conflicts between mining companies and locals could lead to violence.

2. National Risks to Ghana
3. Economic Losses Outweigh Short-Term Gains

• Bauxite mining profits will last 20-30 years, but water scarcity & land degradation will last centuries.
• Ghana’s cocoa industry (15% of GDP) depends on clean water from Atewa—pollution could collapse exports.
• Tourism revenue (e.g., birdwatching, hiking) will disappear if Atewa is destroyed.

1. Violation of Ghana’s Environmental Laws & Global Commitments

• Ghana’s 1992 Constitution (Article 36(9)) mandates environmental protection.
• Mining in Atewa breaches international agreements:
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • Paris Climate Agreement (deforestation worsens climate change)
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6, 13, 15)

1. Increased Flooding & Climate Disasters

• Atewa acts as a natural sponge, absorbing rainfall. Mining will increase flooding in Accra and Eastern Region.
• Deforestation will worsen droughts, harming food security.

3. Global Risks: Why the World Should Care
4. Mass Extinction of Endangered Species

• Atewa hosts species found nowhere else on Earth, including:
  • White-naped mangabey (critically endangered)
  • Afia Birago puddle frog (endemic to Atewa)
  • Atewa dwarf gecko & Atewa butterfly
• Losing Atewa = Permanent global biodiversity loss (it’s an Alliance for Zero Extinction site).

1. Climate Change Acceleration

• Atewa stores millions of tons of carbon—mining will release CO₂, worsening global warming.
• Ghana’s deforestation rate already among highest in Africa—losing Atewa will make climate targets unattainable.

1. Threat to Global Water & Food Security

• Pollution from Atewa could spread to the Volta River, affecting Togo, Benin, and beyond.
• Cocoa from Ghana (20% of world supply) depends on clean water—contamination could spike global chocolate prices.
• Modern Threats: In recent years, the Ghanaian government has explored bauxite mining in Atewa as part of a $2 billion deal with China (under the Sinohydro Agreement), putting the forest at severe risk

Our Demands

We call on the Government of Ghana, The IGP, The Minerals Commission, The minister in charge of Lands and Natural resources, traditional authorities, and all stakeholders to:

1. Immediately halt all mining-related activities in and around the Atewa Forest.
2. Designate Atewa as a National Park to ensure permanent protection under Ghana’s protected areas system.
3. Respect community rights by engaging in transparent and inclusive consultations before any decisions affecting Atewa are made.
4. Promote sustainable alternatives such as eco-tourism, research, and green enterprises instead of destructive mining.
5. Enforce existing environmental laws and adhere to Ghana’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Paris Climate Agreement.

As Concerned Youth of Sagyemanse, we will resist any attempt to destroy the Atewa Forest through all legal, advocacy, and community mobilization means. We stand in solidarity with environmental groups, including A Rocha Ghana, Save Atewa Alliance, and the Coalition of NGOs Against Mining in Atewa, to protect this national treasure for present and future generations.

Conclusion: A Call for Global Action

The Atewa Forest is not just Ghana’s heritage—it is a global ecological asset. International organizations, conservationists, and governments must support efforts to:
Stop mining plans and permanently protect Atewa as a National Park.
Promote eco-tourism and sustainable livelihoods instead of destructive extraction.
Strengthen global pressure on Ghana to honor its environmental commitments.

#SaveAtewaForest

#NoMiningInAtewa

 #WaterIsLife

Signed,
Concerned Residents of Akyem Abuakwa

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The Koforidua Circuit Court B sentenced them after they were found guilty of engaging in the dig and wash model of illegal mining in the Atewa Forest Reserve, contrary to the
country’s mining laws which bar mining in forest reserves.

The 11 convicts are among 55 persons who were arrested by officials of the Forestry Commission in 16 different operations in the Atewa Forest between January and April this
year.

A document detailing the progress report on the cases made available to the Daily Graphic by the Eastern Region Forestry Commission revealed that the 44 people who were all on remand failed to meet “tough bail conditions.

Hefty sentences

Perusal of the progress report on the court cases revealed that three of the convicts – Alhassan Lariba, Foster Boakye and Kwaku Ampofo, who were arrested at the Pameng portion of the Atewa Forest, were sentenced to 3,000 penalty units, amounting to GH¢36,000 in addition to five years’ imprisonment.

In another case, George Asare and Godwin Ahadzi, who were arrested at the Asiakwa portion of the Atewa Forest, were fined 10,000 penalty units, amounting to GH¢120,000 or they would spend 15 years in prison.

Again, Isaac Kofi and Yaw Boadi, who were arrested in the Obourho portion of the forest, were fined 10,000 penalty units of GH¢120,000 in addition to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Last Thursday, three other illegal miners – Bismark Dompreh, Kwasi Samuel and Kwadwo Baah – were handed 15 years sentence and a fine of GH¢1,000 each.

Arrests

The illegal miners were arrested at various locations in the Atewa Forest, including Sagyimase, Pameng, Asiakwa, Ahwenease, Juaso, Obourho, Potroase and Apenaman, the report stated.

The remaining 44 suspects were being prosecuted in 10 separate cases at the Koforidua Circuit Court B, it said.

Concerns

The Daily Graphic has published a series of stories on the protracted illegal mining activities across the country and raised concerns about the devastation the canker was causing to land and water resources.

The Atewa Forest Reserve has been in the news in terms of illegal mining.

Therefore, the Daily Graphic sought answers from the Eastern Region Forestry Commission last Thursday on what was being done to bring the perpetrators to book to stop the illegality.

Contrary to speculations that illegal miners have always been treated with kid gloves, the Daily Graphic found out that some of the culprits had been handed hefty fines and prison sentences.

Good move

The Eastern Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Kwabena Poku Bosompim, said the alacrity with which the court dispensed justice in the cases gave the commission confidence that illegal mining in forest reserves would be drastically reduced.

“I must commend the court for acting promptly in terms of prosecuting these cases. We are very optimistic about the success of the remaining cases involving 44 people,” he said.

Mr Bosompim added that during the 16 operations carried out in the Atewa Forest Reserve, the team retrieved 16 pumping machines, four chainsaw machines, two monkey jacks and two locally manufactured guns.

The Eastern Regional Forestry Commission manager warned that the ForestryCommission officials would continue to be on the heels of all adamant illegal miners who were destroying the forest reserves.

“We will be alert and always track the activities of this dig and wash illegal miners who go to the forest reserves mostly in the night to do their operation. We have reduced it to the barest minimum, but our target is to halt it completely,” Mr Bosompim stated.

For his part, the Kyebi Forest District Manager, Emmanuel Antwi, said measures had been put in place to stop any unscrupulous persons from entering the Atewa Forest to mine illegally.

“Under my watch as the District Manager of the Kyebi Forest District, no one can enter the reserve with an excavator to do mining. What happens is that sometimes, you find people with shovels and pickaxes but even with that, we are arresting and prosecuting them,” he stressed.

He observed that although some illegal mining activities went on within the Atewa East, Atewa West and Fanteakwa districts, they were outside the forest reserve.

Therefore, Mr Antwi urged the media to always seek clarification before carrying stories about illegal mining in the Atewa Forest.

Background

In an effort to repress illegal small-scale mining, the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, directed the suspension of all mining reconnaissance and prospecting activities in forest reserves nationwide until further notice.

The ministry noted that many individuals and companies were engaged in illegal mining in forest reserves on the pretext of reconnaissance or prospecting.

In line with that ban, the Minerals Commission was also instructed to cease the processing, provision and renewal of reconnaissance and prospecting licences for forest reserves.

The directive was made pursuant to Section four of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which allows the minister to reserve land from mining when the need arises. 

The discovery was made by two British scientists working in Ghana.

The Shelley’s Eagle-Owl Bubo shelleyi was described in 1872 from a specimen obtained from a local hunter in Ghana by Richard Bowdler Sharpe, curator of the bird collection at the Natural History Museum in London and founder of the British Ornithologists’ Club.

A Statement signed by Mr Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Coordinator of A Rocha Ghana, an Environmental Non-government Al Organizational and copied to the media said there have been no confirmed sightings in Ghana since then, and very few glimpses elsewhere. It remains almost completely unknown. The only photographs of a living individual were grainy images taken in 1975 of a captive individual behind bars at Antwerp Zoo.

This all changed when, on the 16th of October 2021, the species was conclusively rediscovered by Dr Robert Williams, a freelance ecologist from Somerset, and Dr Joseph Tobias, a biologist at Imperial College London and leader of a UK-government funded field project studying biological impacts of agricultural development in Africa.

The scientists, who visited the Atewa Forest during their time in Ghana, disturbed the huge bird from its daytime roost while they were walking in the forest, and initially thought it was an eagle as it flew through the tall trees.

Luckily, it perched on a low branch, where they had a few seconds to clinch the identification and take the first known photographs of a wild Shelley’s Eagle-Owl.

According to records available, there have been occasional reports of Shelley’s Eagle-Owl over recent decades with brief sightings or calls heard from a few different localities across West and Central Africa from Sierra Leone to Angola and eastern Congo. Most of these records are unconfirmed.

The species has therefore become a ‘holy grail’ for birdwatchers in Africa and beyond. Shelley’s Eagle Owl is officially classified as Vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with an estimated population of only a few thousand individuals.

The fact that a predator of such massive size had become essentially invisible over a large swathe of Africa fuelled speculation as to its current whereabouts and reasons for its apparent rarity.

Commenting on the observation, Dr Nathaniel Annorbah of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ghana, said “This is a sensational discovery. We’ve been searching for this mysterious bird for years in the western lowlands, so to find it here in ridgetop forests of Eastern Region is a huge surprise.”

He said this latest discovery adds credence to the clarion call by Civil Society Organisationss (CSOs), State Agencies as well as the International Community of the need for the Government of Ghana to secure the Atewa Forest by protecting it from all extractive activities that will destroy its ecological integrity.

Dr Annorbah said, it was also imperative that we collectively pursue a green development pathway, that will ensure the complete protection of the forest’s ecosystem services of water provisioning, habitat for teeming biodiversity as well as climate amelioration services, which cannot be overstated

In November 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature passed an International Resolution calling for global action to make Atewa Forest a National Park to secure its invaluable biological assets as well as its crucial water provisioning services for over five million Ghanaians.

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II also in July 2021, reiterated the urgency to protect Atewa Forest as a National Park.

With all the recent discoveries in Atewa, it is becoming increasingly clear that Atewa Forest is the jewel in the crown of Ghana’s forests and needs all the necessary protection it can get.

This is a critical new development as Atewa Forest now becomes a ‘No-Go Area’ for mining, strengthening its protection of the species, ecosystem services and livelihoods it supports.

To achieve this reputable global conservation status, the area must contain more than 95 per cent of the entire population of one or more species listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The recent discovery of the endemic (found nowhere else in the world) Afia Birago puddle frog in swampy habitats within the summits of Atewa Forest has ensured the forest now holds this highest globally recognized conservation designation – in addition to its existing status as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA).

The frog is this week being added to the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) database managed by the KBA Partnership, simultaneously triggering Atewa’s new status as an AZE site.

The Afia Birago puddle frog was discovered by Ghanaian scientist Dr Caleb Ofori-Boateng of the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, who proudly named it after his mother.

Designated Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2019, it is found only in very limited habitats within the Atewa Forest, an area now targeted by the government for bauxite mining.

This is a huge threat to the survival of this species.

The central goal of AZE is to prevent any further extinctions of species from the world.

It does this by eliminating threats and where possible restoring habitats at AZE sites so that populations of threatened species can survive.

The Alliance is made up of 93 conservation organizations from 37 countries, and has now identified over 850 sites across the world as AZE sites.

For the Atewa Forest and all the endangered and endemic species living there, the new AZE status is highly significant.

It means that the forest now falls under the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) No-Go areas for project financing.

The IFC is part of the World Bank Group and is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries.

It is owned by 185 member countries that collectively determine its policies.

The IFC’s Performance Standard 6 (IFC PS6) on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources states that, “Based on the mitigation and management requirements of paragraph 17 of Performance Standard 6, some areas will not be acceptable for financing… They include the following: Sites that fit the designation criteria of the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)”.

The only exception is where a project is specifically designed to contribute to the conservation of the area. Ecotourism or green development initiatives, for example, may fall into this category.

The IFC’s ‘No-Go” criterion is significant because many finance institutions, including the 116 that have signed up to the Equator Principles – an environmental and social risk management framework – and certain international standards for best practices in mining, have incorporated IFC PS6.

This makes Atewa Forest a no-go area for both project finance and project development.

A statement signed by Daryl Bosu, Depuy National Coordinator of A Rocha Ghana in response said: “To be clear, civil society’s concerns are over the location proposed for bauxite mining – that is, the mountain tops – as this is within Atewa’s legally protected area and is also the most critical for biodiversity and clean water.”

“Instead of another biodiversity report, an independent Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) is what is urgently needed to document how mining will impact on the forest, species, habitats, ecosystem services, livelihoods and access to clean water,” the statement added.

He added: “A number of aluminium user companies have already stated their objections to aluminium produced with bauxite from Atewa.”

The statement said the destruction of state gazetted forests by illegal activities should be the concern.

“We urge Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation to work with us to explore these green investments for the benefits of Ghanaians today and tomorrow,” he appealed.

The motion becomes a formal IUCN resolution, given the Government of Ghana (again) a clear message that the Atewa Forest must be withdrawn from the plan bauxite mining and protected as a National Park.

The motion was brought by A Rocha Ghana with Co-sponsors and IUCN members, The Development Institute, Benin Environment and Education Society, Nature Tropicale, and International IUCN members A Rocha International, WWF, Birdlife International, Global Wildlife Conservation, Rainforest Trust, Synchronicity Earth and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

IUCN motions are voted on by the membership, including governments, Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Scientific and Academic Institutions, and Business Associations.

This breadth of knowledge and expertise means IUCN decisions carry significant weight and its motions are part of a 4-year cycle that enable members to guide IUCN policy.    

The motions process which is very vigorous takes more than a year from submission to voting.

Of the 580 members voting on the motion, 98 per cent were in favour showing clearly that the decision to mine bauxite in Atewa is vehemently opposed.

It follows years of letters and petitions from the international community signed by tens of thousands of people, all unheeded.

To be called out in this way by the IUCN is extremely serious and government can no longer ignore this increasing dissent.

The outcome also highlights how inimical the plan is to the President’s position as co-chair of the Sustainable Development Goals, for which the IUCN is a key partner in delivering.

What is the Motion about?

The motion outlined the critical conservation importance of Atewa Forest, in particular that it is one of only two Upland Evergreen forests in Ghana, a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), and home to an incredible diversity of wildlife species.

These include over 100 listed on the IUCN Red List as threatened, at least two being Critically Endangered and several endemic. 

It also highlighted the many benefits of the Atewa Forest and how bauxite mining would irreversibly damage them.

One of its key ecosystem services is to provide clean water daily for an estimated 5 million people both within the forest and downstream to Ghana’s capital Accra. 

The motion urges government to end all mining-related activities in the Atewa Forest and establish a National Park to ensure its conservation in perpetuity.

It also requests support from the international community to help establish it as a world-class protected area complete with green development initiatives. 

In case the government still refuses to reverse its decision, the motion requests mining companies not to mine bauxite in or near the forest, and aluminium users to exclude Atewa-sourced aluminium from their supply chains.

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is asked to assist member companies in these endeavours, and financial institutions urged not to finance any destructive activities in or around the Atewa Forest.

In view of the extreme urgency of the case, the motion finally calls on the IUCN Director General to provide a special report to the 2024 World Conservation Congress on the resolution’s implementation. 

The sponsors of Motion 103 are grateful to all IUCN members who recognised the critical importance of Atewa Forest and helped highlight this to the world.

It gives great encouragement and hope that, with the international support behind the resolution, Atewa Forest will be protected for eternity

Tuesday’s open demonstration by the group follows series of protests by some environmental groups who have petitioned government to demand a cessation of mining activities in the Atewa Forest Reserve.

Speaking in an interview with Adom News, PRO of the demonstrators, Nana Ampem Darko Amponsah said the group’s action was to compel government to abort plans of mining bauxite in the Atewa forest reserve.

“The move to leverage the reserve to the China government as part of the Sinohydro deal will have dire consequences on the people, especially those living in catchment areas,” he said.

Nana Amponsah also vowed the group and residents of Atewa will resist every attempt to leverage if their pleas are not addressed by government.

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Clad in red attires, the protesters wielded placards with several inscriptions including “No Atewa No water”, “Water is Life” among others, to send a message to government.

The Atewa Range in the Eastern Region is internationally recognized as one of the highest priority ecosystems in West Africa for its high species diversity.

It is also known for its high levels of endemism and great hydrological importance but these qualities risk depletion as government intends to mine bauxite in the forest

It is also a source of fresh water for about five million Ghanaians with government’s plan to mine bauxite in the area leaving many environmentalists and residents worried.