Eco-Conscious Citizens unveils signpost to mount pressure on Mahama to declare Atewa Forest a national park

Campaign Intensifies for Atewa Forest Reserve Protection
Civil Society Group Eco-Conscious Citizens has stepped up its campaign for the protection of the Atewa Forest Reserve with the unveiling of a campaign signpost at the Eco Bus Stop on the Spintex Road in Accra. The latest initiative forms part of the group’s “Atewa Matters” campaign, which seeks to raise public awareness about the ecological importance of the forest and build pressure on President John Mahama to immediately declare the Atewa Forest a National Park. The group says such a declaration would provide stronger legal protection for the forest and halt plans to undertake bauxite mining in the reserve.

Call on President Mahama
Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, said the Atewa Forest is too important to Ghana’s environmental and water security to be exposed to activities that could permanently damage the ecosystem. She warned that bauxite mining in the forest could destroy endangered species, degrade the landscape and threaten critical water sources serving millions of Ghanaians.
According to her, the government must act decisively to protect Atewa for its biodiversity, the livelihoods of communities and its contribution to favourable climatic conditions.
“Make Atewa a National Park” has therefore become the central message of the campaign as the group seeks to mobilise greater public support for the forest.

Atewa Forest: A Lifeline for Millions
The Atewa Range Forest Reserve is the source of three major rivers including the Birim, Ayensu and Densu. These rivers provide water to communities across the Eastern, Central and Greater Accra regions and are estimated to serve more than five million Ghanaians.
Awula Serwah cautioned that continued pollution and degradation of the forest could have serious consequences for water security.

She said the destruction of the forest would not only threaten the quality and availability of water but could also result in the loss of its rich flora and fauna.
For environmental advocates, protecting Atewa is therefore not simply a conservation issue but a matter of safeguarding livelihoods, public health and the future of Ghana’s water resources.

Illegal Mining and Other Threats
Despite its ecological significance, the forest has faced persistent threats over the years. Illegal chainsaw logging has been a concern since the 1990s, while illegal mining has increasingly contributed to environmental degradation in and around the reserve.
The growing pressure on the forest has prompted calls for stronger enforcement and long-term legal protection, with security personnel deployed at various points to support efforts to protect the reserve. Environmental advocates fear that continued degradation could undermine the forest’s ability to regulate water flows, support biodiversity and sustain communities that depend on its natural resources.

A Forest of Global Importance
The Atewa Range Forest Reserve is recognised as one of West Africa’s high-priority ecosystems because of its exceptional biodiversity, high levels of endemism and hydrological importance.
Established as a National Forest Reserve in 1926, Atewa was designated a Special Biological Protection Area in 1994 and a Hill Sanctuary in 1995. In 1999, it was listed among Ghana’s 30 Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas. These designations underscore the importance of the forest and have strengthened calls for it to receive the highest level of protection possible.

Private Sector Support for the Campaign
Awula Serwah commended JCS Investments Limited for supporting the campaign through the provision of the eco-friendly bus stop where the campaign signpost was mounted.
Chief Executive Officer of JCS Investments, Patricia Safo, said greater public awareness and action were needed to protect Ghana’s environment.
She explained that the company supported the Eco Bus Stop in collaboration with the relevant municipal authorities to create a public platform for highlighting environmental concerns.

Ms Safo urged members of the public to consider the environmental consequences of their daily activities and make choices that promote sustainability.
Public Awareness at the Heart of the Campaign The signpost at Spintex Road is intended to take the Atewa campaign beyond traditional environmental advocacy and place the issue directly in the public space.

Eco-Conscious Citizens hopes that motorists, commuters and residents who encounter the message will become more aware of the forest’s importance and join calls for its protection.
For the group, public pressure is crucial to ensuring that the protection of Atewa remains a national priority.

The Call: Make Atewa a National Park
As concerns over illegal mining and other forms of degradation continue, Eco-Conscious Citizens is calling on President John Mahama to take immediate action by declaring the Atewa Forest a National Park. The group believes that stronger legal protection would help safeguard the forest’s biodiversity, protect the sources of the Birim, Ayensu and Densu rivers, and preserve an ecosystem vital to millions of Ghanaians. The campaign’s message is clear:
Make Atewa a National Park.
Make Atewa a National Park.
Make Atewa a National Park.