Shea Network Ghana calls for amendment of Forestry Act

The National Coordinator of Shea Network Ghana (SNG), Iddi Zakaria has called for an amendment of the Forestry Commission Act 1999 (571) to curtail the destruction of non timber forest resources especially Sheatrees. Mr. Iddi believes that non inclusion of non-timber forest resources in the Act is destroying non timber resources such as Shea trees which threatens livelihood of many women in the country. The National Coordinator made the call during a tour to some communities in the Karaga district to ascertain the destruction of Shea trees by farmers in the area. Despite efforts by Shea Network Ghana to empower women through Shea nut in the northern region, farmers in the Karaga district are destroying non timber resources such as Shea trees for charcoal and fire woods. Some of the farmers also see the Shea trees as potential danger to the yields of their crops. On our pursuit to unravel the truth Fiila news met a farmer at Nyong-Guma who set fire on a Shea tree in order to give opportunity for his crop to germinate properly. Madam Sanatu Abdulai, a shea nut processor at Bagurugu bemoaned the spate at which the shea trees are being destroyed. She revealed that the women groups have been sensitizing the men on the need to protect the shea trees since it improves the livelihoods of families.

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Source:Saaka Alhassan