Sahara Desert fast approaching Ghana

Environmentalist warns of a looming threat of desertification in Ghana
Accra, Dec.12, GNA- An environmental activist on Tuesday raised the alarm bell about the speed at which the Sahara Desert Sahara Desert was fast approaching the borders of Ghana, and called on the Government to act swiftly to save the country from dooms day.

Mr Michael Yao Tomfeah, President of Afrika Wiederaufforstungsverin e.v, a German-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) that deals with environmental issues, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that a survey he conducted in Ghana and countries bordering the country to Niger revealed that poor environmental practices had made the threat of desertification a reality.

He said the Sahara Desert was fast approaching: "And this shocking reality is being fuelled by the rate at which people are setting bushfires.

"From Eastern Region to the Upper East Region, there is no where you will not see people burning bushes."

Mr Tomfeah said the country should embrace reforestation as soon as possible, or else "I cannot see any chance for Ghana". He said his NGO had established a tree nursery project at Adjanuar, near Aburi in the Eastern Region and an agro-forestry project at Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region to help to preserve the environment.

Meanwhile a survey carried out by the GNA on the Tamale - Bolgatanga road revealed that large tract of arable land had been consumed by bushfire, thus compromising the safety of amenities such as wooden electricity poles and transmitters, farms and sheanut trees along the route.

Some of the communities affected are Kodia, Nabogu, Diare, Pong-Tamale, Kanshegu and the campus of Savelugu Secondary School. An aerial view of the Northern Region and the savannah areas of Ghana revealed massive bush burning.

On Saturday, December 9, 2006, the convoy of the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, which was returning from Bolgatanga to Tamale after an official assignment, ran into bushfire on both side of the asphalt road shortly after leaving the Boltaganga Township.

Bush burning is popular among farmers as means of preparing the land for farming and to eliminate reptiles and rodents that posed threat to lives and their farming activities.