Artistes resolve to save Atiwa Forest through “Atiwa Till Eternity”

from left to right: MzVee, Kwami Eugene, Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour), Sherifa Gunu and Nero X

One of Ghana’s iconic forest, Atiwa, which has been depleted as a result of both man-made and natural disasters, is on the verge of being mugged.  And the exercise is spearheaded by a group of musicians including President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA); Bice Osei Kuffour.

Atiwa forest, located in the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region has been quite irreversibly degraded and plantations are being totally destroyed by these rapacious swarms of illegal gold diggers, fortune hunters and their Ghanaian surrogates, collaborators and connivers!

Mr. Osei Kuffour (Obour) is joined on the project by other professional musicians who have resolved to rescue the forest from going down.

The campaign to save the forest is met by Arocha Ghana, Family Tree Entertainment and Greenbeat in Netherlands, and the partners say they are determined to save the forest from further depletion.

An important natural resource for the Densu River which feeds the Weija Dam, it also serves as potable water to at least two million people in Accra. It is estimated that five million people remain to be beneficiaries of water from the forest.

The video, ‘Atiwa Till Eternity’ features Obour, MzVee, Sherifa Gunu, Nero X, Heleen Den Homberg (from Netherlands), Kojo Rana, Kuami Eugene and the Patch Bay Band, who are ambassadors for the project.

The video released highlights the urgent need to save the forest, which is situated in a beautiful mountainous area and endowed with vast biodiversity and mineral resource, from further destruction and illegal mining activities.

Speaking at the unveiling of the video at the Netherlands Embassy in Accra, Obour said “It is really disheartening when you look at the mess which is created by the activities of illegal galamsey and chainsaw operators in this country. They mine the lands, fell trees and sometimes even set fire on portions of the land where the hunt and farm, and these activities are depleting the forest. It is high time we all came on board as ambassadors to add our voices to help save and preserve the rich natural Atiwa forest. I believe if we do not act now, it will be too late.”

He added that the group would lobby to get the government to pass a legislation to make the Atiwa forest a national park as a measure to help protect the forest.

The music and video, he noted, will be promoted extensively on national televisions and radio. The celebrities will also use their fan base and following, to influence and give the campaign a heavy boost.

The MUSIGA president revealed that their long-term plan is to use the campaign to institute an annual festival in Kyebi to drum home their message of turning the Atiwa Forest into a national park.

The outdooring of the video was attended by several personalities including, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy; Caecilia Wijgers, Deputy Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture; Dr. Ziblim Iddi, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Country Director, Arocha Ghana; Seth Appiah Kubi and Board Chairman, Arocha Ghana; Prof. Oteng Yeboah. They all pledged their support for the project.

Some of the artistes on the campaign, present at the event were MzVee, Nero X, Kojo Rana, Kuami Eugene and the Patch Bay Band.

Sherifa Gunu in a handshake with Okyenhene Omoatia Ofori Panyin plus the 'Atiwa Till Eternity' crew, during their visit.