Redd+Community Leaders Say Ghana’s Removal as Co-Chair of Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership Will Not Solve Galamsey Menace

A Group known as the Hotspot Intervention Area (HIA) Management Board Members- the apex decision-making body of the governance structures developed under the premier emission reductions programme dubbed the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) has rejected calls   by AROCHA Ghana demanding the removal of Ghana as Co-Chair of the Forest & Climate Leaders' Partnership (FCLP) citing the widespread devastation caused by illegal mining activities (galamsey) as the reason.A Rocha, in a letter to the US Embassy  stated categorically that the Ghana government is no longer fit to Co-Chair the FCLP and should be removed from this position with immediate effect.According to the group, calling for the removal of Ghana as Co chair of forest and climate Leaders partnership is not the answer to address  the increasing rate of illegal mining"We categorically without reservation state that the AROCHA press release does not represent the interest of local communities residing in these regions and are part of the Ghana REDD+ programme.For the records, Ghana has been a major pillar and a global leader in the global efforts of reducing atmospheric emissions evidenced by the Emission Reductions of 972,465 tonnes of CO2 in 2019 and 3,379,161 tonnes of CO2 in 2020/2021.They maintained  that they all acknowledge  the need for emergency efforts to curb the situation."In as much as we agree with AROCHA that something needs to be done urgently about the galamsey menace, it does not mean sponsoring the efforts of depriving Ghana and its people particularly, local communities the golden opportunity to harness climate investments through such a high-level political platform."We plan to pursue community driven actions to create the needed momentum and support in addressing galamsey.

We intend to work with all and sundry including Traditional Authorities, NGOs/CSOs, religious organizations and institutions, academia and political parties to fashion out pragmatic ways of addressing the galamsey menace.

With these said, we welcome AROCHA and the likes to join hands in fighting galamsey for the benefit of the present generation and posterity.

Long live Ghana, long live REDD+," they notedHotspot Intervention Area (HIA) Management Board Members represent local communities, women, youth, marginalized and vulnerable groups covering five regions in Ghana: Western North, Ahafo, Ashanti, Central and Eastern regions.