African Biodiversity Network holds workshop on preservation of sacred natural sites

By Nneka Nwogwugwu 

A sensitisation workshop on the African Commission Resolution 372 has been held to amongst others promote the recognition and protection of sacred sites on the African continent.

The three-day workshop, which held in Ghana was organised by the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with the African Biodiversity Network, and participants included stakeholders from various African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Benin.

Dr Abudulai Sulemana, Chairman of African Biodiversity Network, speaking during the workshop, emphasised that “The need to protect and preserve the sacred sites derives from something that we all know, which is there is no community or group in this world that does not have a story of origin.”

He said “The stories of origin often have spiritual undertones or roots. Therefore, the things that hold people together, the things that we draw our identity, the web of kinship that exists between us and one another derives from stories of origin but also those things that have spiritual, cultural and ecological importance. And that is why sacred sites in Africa are very important as the nerve centres of what hold our communities together.”

The African Commission Resolution 372 called on State Parties “To recognise sacred natural sites and territories, and their customary governance systems, as contributing to the protection of human and peoples’ rights.”

Dr Sulemana called on policy-makers “To recognise this but also build this into the way in which land policy is formulated; the way in which the relationships between the custodians of sacred sites and traditional rulers. Most communities; that relationship is very clear; there is a lot of respect; if you go to Upper East, and Upper West Regions, the Tindanba and chiefs work together to make sure that this relationship exists.”