On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Hon. Addo-Donkor Everson convened a meeting with Nananom (traditional leaders) and key stakeholders to discuss a recent fire outbreak in the Bonya forest reserve that devastated the vegetation. The primary goal was to identify the root cause and establish strategies to prevent future fires.
Hon. Everson described the situation as “devastating and worrying,” noting that the fire had destroyed fast-growing trees planted as part of the 2022 Green Ghana Day initiative. The Bonya-Mprisi sacred grove, reserved for over 300 years, was targeted for the planting of 1.2 million trees to restore its ecological balance, which has been threatened by human activities and species loss.
To address the issue, the meeting concluded with the formation of a seven-member ad-hoc committee, chaired by Nana Frimpong Boakye Yiadom. This committee is formally tasked with investigating the root cause of the fire and submitting recommendations for preventative measures.
Additionally, the District Planning Officer, Mad. Faustina Amadu, stressed the need to educate the community on the economic benefits of the forest, particularly its role in sustaining rainfall for agriculture.
