SILDEP launches campaign against Rosewood and fertilizer smuggling A one year project aimed at fighting corruption in the illegal felling of rosewood and smuggling of government’s fertilizer has been launched at Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West Region. The project known as Intensive Fight against Corruption is aimed at exposing activities of those involved in the illegal practice. Harvesting of rosewood in the Upper West Region has become a major challenge in the past four years. The project is being implemented by The Regional Security Council on two occasions issued statements banning the practice but to no avail. The practice is said to be having a negative effect on environment which ultimately affect food production. A civil society Social Initiative for Literacy and Development, SILDEP in partnership with STAR Ghana, Christian AID UKAID and DANIDA has therefore begun a year-long programme aimed at addressing the menace. Stakeholders met at Tumu to discuss how best the practice of illegal harvesting of rosewood and smuggling of fertilizer can be brought under control. The Executive Director of SILDEP, Moses Dramani Luri told GBC that over 80 percent of residents’ main source of livelihood in the municipality is farming. As a result there are media reports about the youth, individuals and traditional authorities agitating against both rosewood harvesting and fertilizer smuggling. He said unlike illegal mining in parts of the country, rosewood felling challenges sustainable development efforts by the Municipal Assembly, central government and civil society. The practice Mr Luri noted has a long term impact on the land and environment warning that if care is not taken it will cause a calamity in the Municipality. Explaining the programme further the Executive Director of SILDEP said the year-long project will see engagement with experts and stakeholders quarterly to plan, implement and review plans. He expressed the hope that when stakeholders are well sensitized, a collective way forward will be curved which will results in positive outcome. He called on the government to stop issuing permits to companies to salvage rosewood in order to bring sanity into the sector. President of Sissala Youth Forum Mumuni Yahya said the practice is having a serious impact on environment in the municipality. He did not understand why 173 trucks of rosewood could be salvaged from February to April this year when the impression is created that new trees are not being fell. An Assistant District Manager of Forestry Service Division of Forestry Commission at Tumu Peter Andoh said Act 617 2002 allows the sector minister to make regulations on the procedure for salvage and disposal of abandoned timber or seized timber produce. He explained that salvage permits are not timber rights. Rather they are merely permits to ensure efficient resource use in a specific situation. He recommended nursing and free distribution of seedlings for replanting as one of the ways to address the depletion of the environment. The Municipal Chief Executive for Sissala East Mr. Karim Nanyua lauded the efforts of stakeholders in trying to deal with the menace. He said agriculture has been proven as the leading driver of the economy in the Municipality. He said this potential is however, being compromised by actions and inactions of the people in recent times. He entreated all to play their role effectively to ensure that the environment is protected. Story by GBC's Sualah Abdul-wahab GBCONLINE ---DECRYPTED---