Seeku Janko, known as Wola Mansa (King of the Forest) and the President of the All Gambia Forestry Platform (AGFP), appeared as a guest on AG Radio yesterday. He voiced his concerns regarding the government’s actions that are leading to the destruction of the forest, favouring individuals connected to President Adama Barrow.
While travelling in Sub Saharan Africa, Mr. Janko noted that Libya is not expected to be greatly affected by the desertification issues confronting the continent, due to its current oil resources. In Gambia, our forests symbolise our wealth, and if we fail to safeguard them, we will soon discover that they may vanish from our nation.
Mr. Janko, a qualified teacher by profession, departed from the teaching field to safeguard Gambia’s endangered forests against the looming threat of deforestation. Mr. Janko emphasised that humanity’s existence on Earth is impossible without forests. All that we consume comes from our forest. If we destroy our forests, what will become of our children’s future?
Three decades ago, it was possible to spend an entire month in the forests without worrying about food, as all essentials for survival were easily accessible in the forests. Mr. Janko observed that currently, the majority of our fruits and vegetables have disappeared from our forests.
Mr. Janko stated that both the people and the government bear clear responsibility for the destruction of the forest. The cutting down of trees for firewood used in cooking is concerning, but what is even more alarming is the lack of enforcement of the laws put in place by the government to protect our forests.
The connection between politics and corruption in our forests is clear, as the government allocates our forests to a limited number of businessmen and foreign entities linked to President Adama Barrow. This practice enables the buildup of warehouses and airports, which significantly accelerates the depletion and destruction of our forests.
