Environmental advocacy group, A Rocha Ghana has raised alarm over the ongoing felling of trees along the Atomic-Kwabenya Highway, calling on the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to immediately halt the practice and adopt a more sustainable approach to urban development.
In a statement released on Tuesday, May 20, A Rocha Ghana described the tree removals as “indiscriminate” and warned that continued deforestation in the area threatens biodiversity, increases urban heat, and contributes to long-term environmental degradation.
“The felling of trees along the Atomic-Kwabenya highway must cease immediately. A clear, enforceable plan for replanting and maintaining green cover is essential,” the group urged.
According to the group, any tree cut down should be replaced with two or more native species in appropriate locations, with strict monitoring measures in place to ensure their survival. A Rocha stressed that sustainable urban development must strike a balance between infrastructure growth and ecological responsibility.
Citing a specific incident from last year, A Rocha recalled how two trees were “hurriedly felled” with the support of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission to make way for a fuel station near the Maker’s House Chapel. The group questioned how the fuel station gained approval to operate within a sensitive wetland zone located between the Atomic Police Station and the GAEC entrance.
“This development is very unfortunate and needless. Urban Roads had to pause construction works after public outcry to redesign the road to protect the trees. Now that the plan is set, other agents are going in to deliberately destroy the trees gradually. This is environmental sabotage and shameful,” the statement said.
A Rocha Ghana also criticised what it called a “lazy approach” to urban forestry, where trees are often cut down at the slightest risk without efforts to preserve or properly manage them.
“The health of city residents and the ecological resilience of our urban spaces depend on proactive and progressive forest management. We must act now to prevent further environmental harm,” A Rocha added.