THE year has again gone full circle, bringing in its track the dry harmattan season. At least the rains were heavy this year, except that they ceased earlier than expected, resulting in poor crop yields, especially maize, during the lean season.
The damage caused by bush fires came to a head in 1983 when the entire country was engulfed in wild fires caused by human action and a heat wave. In the process, human lives were lost, in addition to many hectares of crops, including cocoa, that were burnt, resulting in increased poverty in society.
We are certain that no Ghanaian wants a repetition of the dry season in 1983 and, therefore, will try as much as possible to protect the vegetative cover.
In spite of the institutionalisation of public education on bush fires, which has become an annual event in December, some sections of society take delight in setting bush fires for game and in preparation of the land for farming.
Charcoal burners, hunters, palm wine tappers and farmers use fire frequently in their line of work and anti-bush fire campaigns should be targeted at those operators.
Not too long ago, world leaders gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, to deliberate on ways to ensure global climate justice.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that as a race we do not need to look far enough to notice that the earth can no longer sustain our productive endeavours.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for more action to promote climate justice in our communities by the strict enforcement of the regulations for any productive activity, whether in agriculture or industry.
It is against this backdrop that we commend the peri-urban communities in the Tamale metropolis for forming anti-bush fire volunteer task forces to combat the increasing rate of indiscriminate burning for hunting and other purposes in the area.
The task forces, which were formed under the supervision of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA), have been tasked to police their respective neighbourhoods to prevent people from engaging in bush burning and facilitate the arrest of persons who do so indiscriminately.
We encourage these two institutions to support the task forces to work towards a bush fire free dry season this year so that crops and houses in the area can be protected.
It is our prayer that such task forces will be formed throughout the country to educate the people on the danger posed by indiscriminate bush burning.
The formation of such bodies is easy to initiate. However, the difficult task is how to equip them to sensitise the people to recognise the role of the green belt in sustaining life on earth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes the task forces very well in their endeavours so that the Tamale area, which is noted for indiscriminate bush burning, will have a respite this year to safeguard the properties of the people.
We call on the people, especially the chiefs, to get actively involved in the exercise because chiefs’ full participation will galvanise the people into action to protect the environment.
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