The Atewa Matters Campaign, with support from Nature’s Heartbeat, has unveiled a public awareness banner on Spintex Road in Accra as part of efforts to rally support for the declaration of the Atewa Forest Reserve as a National Park.
The banner was unveiled on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the JCS Investments Ltd bus stop on Spintex Road.
The campaign is using the public display to raise awareness about the ecological importance of the Atewa Forest and encourage members of the public to sign a petition calling for the forest reserve to be granted National Park status.
The petition can be accessed at bit.ly/MakeAtewaNationalPark
The Atewa Matters Campaign says the initiative is aimed at drawing greater public attention to what it describes as the urgent need to strengthen protection for the forest.
Atewa Forest Reserve was established in 1926 and is recognised as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area.
The forest is also an important source of the Birim, Ayensu and Densu rivers, which provide water to more than five million people in Ghana.
Beyond its importance as a water source, Atewa is home to a wide range of plant and animal species, including endangered fauna and flora.
Campaigners argue that the forest’s ecological significance makes stronger legal protection necessary to preserve it for future generations.
The campaign has raised concerns over activities it says are putting increasing pressure on the forest.
According to campaigners, illegal mining, poaching and irresponsible logging are threatening the integrity of the Atewa Forest Reserve and could undermine its ability to provide critical environmental services.
They are therefore calling for greater public support for the campaign to secure National Park status for the forest.
The campaign believes such a designation would provide an additional layer of protection and strengthen efforts to safeguard the forest’s biodiversity and water resources.
The Eco-Conscious Citizens, who highlighted the banner initiative, expressed appreciation to JCS Investments Ltd for sponsoring the advertising space at the bus stop.
The group said the banner would help expose more residents, commuters and motorists to the Atewa Matters Campaign and its call for stronger protection of the forest.
It also expressed gratitude to A Rocha Ghana and the funders of the Atewa Matters Campaign for their continued support.
The campaign is expected to continue its public engagement and petition drive as advocates seek to build wider national support for the proposed National Park status for Atewa Forest.
By Addo Dennis Adjei