Sinoe County lawmaker Romeo Quiah, in his wisdom, has proposed that the Sinoe National Park located in the county be disrobed from the legal status as ‘protected area’ to allow it become a ‘mining kingdom’ for illegal miners and hunters.
In Quiah’s wisdom, when Sapo is degazetted thereby making it a safe haven for illegal miners and hunters, poverty will be reduced and jobs will be created.
Should Quiah’s wisdom hold water and the government give it his anticipated political blessing, there will no more be a place called Sapo National Park.
Should Quiah’s wisdom or proposal meet it practical reality, we are sure, such call will be made by other law makers in places where ‘protected areas’ in the country are situated and protected by law also.
While we respect the dream and political vision of this Sinoe lawmaker, who is said to be chairman of the House Committee responsible to oversee the Forestry Development Authority, we beg to respectfully disagree with this Sinoe lawmaker.
For instance, Sinoe National Park was created in 1983 by a People Redemption Council government decree to serve as a significant hub for protected animals, and all other endangered species, which are environmentally relevant to our survival as people and a nation.
Should Quiah’s philosophy stand, the country will be telling the whole world that she’s no more interested in protecting harmless animals, while indirectly sanctioning the destruction of trees that are environmentally friendly.
We choose to let Mr. Quaih know that poverty can never be eradicated by means of exposing our natural resources to be illegal harvested by killers of endangered species and diggers of golds and diamonds just for personal gains.
Poverty, instead is reduced, if not eradicated by slashing the herculean salaries assigned to law makers, while teachers. doctors, and all others make just scanty amount.
To this end, we call on Mr. Quiah to withdraw this statement since it tends to be a potentially dangerous recipe the destruction of nature, particularly in our backyard.