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“This Is Heartbreaking”: Tour Guide Raises Alarm Over Illegal Tree Cutting at Afadjato

Joshua, a tour guide with Eco Tour Ghana who has over five years of field experience, has raised serious concerns about the increasing scale of illegal tree cutting for timber and charcoal at Afadjato in the Volta Region of Ghana.

He is calling on the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to urgently intervene and stop the activity, warning that it could have long-term negative effects on the country’s environment and tourism sector.

Speaking from Afadjato in Gbledi, Joshua stressed the need to protect Ghana’s natural resources. “It is about time we take the protection of our natural environment seriously,” he said. “If anyone from the Forestry Commission or the Ghana Tourism Authority is listening, we are pleading with you. What is happening here is an eyesore.”

According to him, the landscape of Afadjato has changed drastically over the years. He recalled a time when hikers could climb the mountain under a natural canopy of trees, enjoying shade throughout the nearly one-hour hike to the summit. “Those days are gone,” he lamented. “Now, there is barely any shade left, and the reason is the illegal cutting down of trees for timber.”

Joshua explained that Eco Tour Ghana is deeply committed to protecting local environments while promoting sustainable tourism across the country. He noted that sustainable tourism has proven benefits for communities, citing the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary as an example. Through tourism, the community has seen improvements in road networks, infrastructure, and access to education for children.

He expressed hope that Afadjato’s surrounding communities could experience similar benefits. According to him, many young people in the area struggle to find jobs after completing senior high school, forcing some to relocate to larger towns such as Hohoe or even Accra in search of work. However, through tourism, those with an interest in the industry can be trained as site guides, creating employment opportunities and supporting local development.

Joshua described Afadjato as one of Ghana’s most popular tourist attractions and said it was heartbreaking to witness the ongoing destruction. He warned that while the effects of deforestation may not be immediately felt, they will have serious consequences for future generations.

“The cutting down of trees will affect us in the long run,” he said. “Without these trees, we risk losing birds and other wildlife that depend on this ecosystem.”

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Writer: Frederick Nortey 

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