Source: newsthemegh.com
The chiefs and inhabitants of the Effutu Traditional Area have vowed to defend their forest reserves from encroachment at any costs.
Their forest reserves serve as hunting grounds for their sacrifice bushbuck for the yearly Aboakyer ceremony and have been recognized as Ramsar sites for ecological reasons.
However, despite the chiefs’ warnings and opposition, Neenyi Ghartey VII, Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, claimed that the locations had come under tremendous pressure from residential developers and cow ranchers.
He claimed that the location was not designated for human habitation and advised the encroachers to keep away, alluding to the terrible effects of climate change that had been seen around the world recently.
Speaking during a large durbar that marked the culmination of the Aboakyer Festival of the chiefs and people of Winneba, Neenyi Ghartey.
The festival, with the theme “Your Participation Makes a Difference for Development,” featured singing, dancing, and friendly traditional and modern competitions with a strong youth presence.
For instance, there is a justification for why our fishermen don’t set sail on Tuesdays that has to do with sustainable fishing. Additionally, there are locations that are set aside for uses other than human settlement, according to Neenyi Ghartey.
“The reason we are in this challenging scenario is that the State agencies do not see our issue the way we do. With the exception of the Wildlife Department’s assistance, the battle has been one-sided, he lamented.
He was, however, certain that they would prevail in the conflict and preserve the natural treasure for future generations if they were solid and resolute in their stance.
In his speech, Neenyi Ghartey made notice of the fact that the celebrations’ planned tree planting activity could not go forward because cattle ranchers had allowed their animals to overgraze, leaving some of the hunting grounds barren. Despite repeated requests from the Traditional Council, the herdsmen remained on the land.
The Paramount Chief argued for a contemporary market to advance economic activity and hygiene standards in other development-related matters.
On market days, he noticed that the market was in a terrible situation because food was being sold on the ground while the nearby streets were closed.
He also urged people and organizations to support turning their community center, which they share with the local elementary school, into a well-grassed pitch with a permanent dais for the benefit of the neighborhood and the school.
To stop the long-standing unclean handling of landed fish, Neenyi Ghartey further urged the government to hasten the development and inauguration of a fish landing facility in the neighborhood.
Later, he expressed his gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for choosing him to lead the University of Education in Winneba and promised to do everything in his ability to elevate the institution’s standards and make it the best tertiary institution in Ghana.
In addition, the Paramount Chief invited everyone in the community to participate in the process of development, saying that “Winneba shall be strong and that depends on our unity and love for one another.”