Kumasi, April 17, – The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has ordered an immediate stop to all unauthorised land clearing activities around Lake Bosomtwe, amid growing concerns over environmental degradation at the site.
He has also directed the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to conduct full-scale investigations into the reported encroachment and take urgent steps to restore affected areas.
The directive follows reports of vegetation destruction along parts of the lake’s shoreline by private developers and encroachers, raising alarm over the sustainability of West Africa’s only natural lake.
Lake Bosomtwe, located in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, has in recent months come under increasing ecological pressure as protective vegetation along its banks is reportedly being cleared.
The situation has triggered concerns among traditional authorities, residents and environmental stakeholders over possible long-term damage to the lake’s ecosystem.
Large portions of shoreline vegetation have already been removed, exposing the area to erosion, habitat destruction and wider environmental risks.
Eyewitnesses say heavy-duty equipment has been deployed in some areas to clear land for unspecified developments.
The EPA, acting on the Minister’s instructions, has begun investigations into what it describes as a sensitive conservation zone of national importance.
Traditional authorities have also stepped in, with Nana Kwaku Bio, Dikro of Abaase, pledging to support enforcement measures and stop further excavation activities around the lake.
Residents have expressed worry over the ongoing destruction, warning that continued encroachment could undermine fishing activities, tourism potential and the ecological balance of the area.
Lake Bosomtwe, a meteorite-formed lake of global environmental and cultural significance, remains one of Ghana’s key natural heritage sites.
Environmental advocates are calling for stricter enforcement of regulations, sustained public education and coordinated institutional action to safeguard the lake from further damage.
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