The Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area (Nungua Mantse), Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, has categorically stated that he had never authorised the sale of any land or signed any document covering the sale of land within the Sakumo Ramsar Site, reaffirming his commitment to support the protection of the internationally significant wetland.
The Nungua Mantse, who is also the President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, made the declaration during a consultative meeting between the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Nungua Traditional Council at the Nungua Mantse Palace.
The engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between the Commission and traditional authorities in the Sakumo catchment area to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Sakumo Ramsar Site and address the growing threat of encroachment. The visit also sought to solicit the support of the Nungua Traditional Council in the protection and conservation of the Site.
Addressing the Chief Executive of FC, Dr Hugh Brown and his team, the Nungua Mantse firmly dismissed claims that he had sanctioned the sale of any portion of the protected wetland. “I have never authorised the sale of any land within the Sakumo Ramsar Site,” he emphasised.
He noted that although several land documents bearing what is purported to be his signature have surfaced, he had neither signed nor approved any such transactions. He therefore, cautioned the general public against engaging with individuals or groups claiming to sell land within the Ramsar Site, describing all such acts as fraudulent.
The Paramount Chief reiterated his commitment to the conservation of the Ramsar Site, stressing that the protection of the Area remains essential for the well-being of both present and future generations.
He described the Sakumo Ramsar Site as a vital ecological asset within the Nungua Traditional Area.According to him, the unlawful activities taking place within the Ramsar Site have contributed significantly to the recurring floods experienced in the area and across the Greater Accra Region.
The Nungua Mantse further urged officials of the Forestry Commission to continue discharging their mandate with professionalism and integrity. He also encouraged further collaboration with FC to safeguard this national asset. “Nungua is our only homeland and we have nowhere else to go ,” he remarked, calling on all present to actively support efforts to protect the Sakumo Ramsar Site.
The Sakumo Ramsar Site is a protected wetland of global ecological importance. It plays a critical role in mitigating coastal flooding, sustaining local livelihoods and providing an important habitat and stopover for numerous migratory waterbird species.
In recent years, the Site has come under increasing pressure from illegal encroachment, which has significantly undermined its ecological functions and heightened the risk of flooding across parts of the Greater Accra Region.
Credit: Forestry Commission Ghana
