A member of the Movement for Change, Ebo Buckman, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to act decisively in protecting Ghana’s environment by treating illegal mining and deforestation as acts of environmental terrorism.
In a passionate open letter, Buckman warned that the consequences of inaction will be dire for generations to come, noting that the country cannot continue to prioritise democracy while ignoring threats to its very survival.
“It is either we accept that environmental terrorism is truly an existential threat, and so deal with it with the urgency and brutality that existential threats demand, or we pretend it isn’t, and sit idle as our people begin to fall ill, our water becomes undrinkable, and our lands barren,” Buckman stated.
“For how long should we continue to burn the oxygen tank and hope to breathe through democracy? The choice is ours. History will judge us either way,” he added.
He urged President Mahama to repeal and replace Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which has drawn widespread criticism from civil society actors and environmental advocates for undermining forest protection.
“Mr. President, one of your greatest opportunities to affirm your commitment to environmental justice is to repeal and replace the controversial Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462,” Buckman appealed.
“The outcry from civil society groups and ordinary citizens was not a rebellion, it was a plea for responsible stewardship.”
Buckman further proposed the establishment of a constitutionally empowered, non-political institution — an Independent Forest Protection Ombudsman or Green Czar — to shield Ghana’s natural resources from political interference and corruption.
“To permanently safeguard our natural heritage, forest protection must be removed from political hands,” he wrote.
“Let professionals lead this charge, backed by law, insulated from interference.”
