By Bisola Adeyemo
The Upper East Region House of Chiefs in Ghana has called on the government to reduce Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) price to prevent the general public from felling trees for firewood and charcoal.
Naba Sigri Bewong, the Paramount Chief of the Sakoti Traditional Area in the Nabdam District of the Region, made the call on Saturday on behalf of the House at a National Energy Transition Forum in Bolgatanga.
According to him, if the price of LPG were far higher than charcoal, people would start looking out for ways to get charcoal which would eventually affect the vegetation of the region.
Naba Bewong said trees played critical roles in the environment and helped to promote human existence through the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, explaining that human beings breath in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide, which is used by trees.
“So, we will urge the Government to take serious steps to reduce the price of LPG if it wants us to reduce carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere,” the Paramount Chief said.
Trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding.
Many species of wildlife depend on trees for their habitat, food and protection.
