Citi News’<\/strong>\u00a0checks at Dzemeni, saw bags of charcoal transported from island communities in Afram plains packed along the riverbank for sale.<\/p>\nThe Secretary to Dzemeni Boat Union, Mr. David Gbetey, also lamented about the decline in fish stock, but blamed it on the increase in population and use of illegal fishing methods.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we go to fishing we don\u2019t get fish, so we must go for the charcoal so that when we get the money we can buy fish in the market. But the fishes are not in the river because now we are many and also some of us don\u2019t use the proper net to catch fishes. The water level is also reducing\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
The Volta Regional Director of Fisheries, Francis Akorlor, said the massive decline in the fish stock does not only threaten the livelihoods of the fisherman; but also the nutrition needs of Ghanaians, as above 80 percent of the population get their protein requirement from fish.<\/p>\n
Indiscriminate felling of trees for firewood and charcoal to either sell or for domestic use is predominant around our water bodies.<\/p>\n
Forests in island communities like Busume, Dodi, Kpekuidzi, Batorkope, Hatorkope ,Akpabudzi and Wuwla are being eaten up.<\/p>\n
Mr Gbetey is aware of the implication of felling trees; but said they always encourage their people to practice reforestation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can say that one way or the other it can affect our climate, but we also encourage our people to replant the trees when they cut them down\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The coastal communities are naturally forested by mangrove species with coastal waters that are very rich in demersal and pelagic fish population.<\/p>\n
These resources provide livelihoods to the communities and contributes to national food security and socio-economic development of the country. Unfortunately these mangroves are being destroyed.<\/p>\n
A visit to the estuary at Anyanui saw bands of these mangroves parked at the landing site as fire wood for sale.<\/p>\n
Staggering figures made available from the Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] revealed that, about 69% of all urban households in Ghana use charcoal for cooking and heating. The annual per capita consumption are around 180 kg.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the demand is rather high in the cities; the total annual consumption is about 700,000 tons, 30% of which is consumed in the capital, Accra.<\/p>\n
Trees play a crucial role supporting life across the globe. They produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide which causes global warming.<\/p>\n
By cutting down trees, we increase the world\u2019s temperature which would to a\u00a0large extent melt blocks of ice in the world\u2019s oceans and trigger undesirable climatic conditions.<\/p>\n
Communities along the shorelines suffer sea erosion chiefly because of deforestation.<\/p>\n
There is high demand for electricity particularly in the tropic zones, because citizens have resorted to the use of air-conditioners to enjoy cool breeze in the midst of the heat.<\/p>\n
Mr David Gbetey believes the only way to salvage the depletion of the forest is to advise the urban folks to always use the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). By that, he explained the charcoal business would become unattractive.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us to stop cutting down trees we would advise those in the cities to use gas than the charcoal because at first charcoal was not our main business but the demand is high that\u2019s why we go into it\u201d he\u00a0explained.<\/p>\n
To ensure that fishermen still stay in business even if the charcoal business becomes unattractive, fishermen are diversifying into a more sustainable and environmentally friendly ventures.<\/p>\n
As a result, a group of fishermen in the Volta Region, have recently launched the Volta Inland Fishermen Association (VIFA), to spearhead the agenda of finding alternative sources of livelihood.<\/p>\n
The National President of VIFA, Mr. Samson Mahu, told Citi News<\/strong> they have identified fish and vegetable farming as a major means of sustaining their livelihoods.<\/p>\n\u201cWe want to diversify our activities into aquaculture and dry season farming. We will grow the fishes ourselves and sell, so we can allow the lake to fallow for the fishes to grow again,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Citi News<\/strong> gathered that, the group\u00a0currently has over 800 members. The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Francis Ganyaglo, lauded the initiative and pledged government\u2019s commitment in supporting them.<\/p>\nBut until their new venture is realized, anytime a fisherman returns from the sea with bags of charcoal, know that the vegetation which supports your life is being destroyed somewhere.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: King Nobert Akpablie\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n
Email:\u00a0Kingnobert2@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
They [women] stood by their empty pans at the shores waiting for their men to return from the sea. Hours passed, but still no signs of them. Neither the waves from the hoisted flags nor the sounds from the outboard motors could be heard. The fishermen powered their boats several hours into the deep waters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":250688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[374],"tags":[2324,12033,3],"yoast_head":"\n
King Nobert writes: When fishermen return home with charcoal - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n