The Sunyani district manager of the Forestry Commission, Francis Brobbey, has called for a review of the ECOWAS protocol on transhumance.
The protocol, which was passed in 1998 and reviewed in 2003, allows the free movement of herders and their livestock within the ECOWAS region in search of pasture.
In an interview with Asaase Radio’s Bono regional correspondent, Brobbey said the activities of the herdsmen and their livestock is a threat to the trees planted under the 2021/2022 Green Ghana initiative and the country’s general afforestation drive.
Brobbey said, “there is an issue with cattle grazing in our forest reserves… We are of the view that there should be a review of the ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol on free movement of humans and animals. The issue is that if the animals enter our reserves, it becomes difficult to deal with them. If you drive them out, they move to another area….
“After years of implementation, there should be a review… The activities of herdsmen in our forest reserves have a negative effect on the Green Ghana initiative. If care is not taken, it will affect the general forest plantation in Ghana.”
The district manager called for support from all stakeholders to fight the negative activities of the herdsmen.
The herdsmen and their cattle have taken over most forest reserves causing destruction worth millions of cedis.
The Sunyani District of the Forestry Commission has seven forest reserves which cover seven political districts: Banda, Tain, Wenchi, Dormaa, Sunyani East, Berekum and Sunyani West districts. Five of the forest reserves have been invaded by the herdsmen and their cattle.
The commission has to meet a target planting 250,000 tree seedlings by 9 June. Seedlings of trees and fruits will be distributed for planting.
Reporting by Daniel Donkor in the Bono Region
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