General News of Wednesday, 13 November 2019Source: classfmonline.comLeonardo DiCaprio 'fights' Akufo-Addo over mining bauxite in the Atewa forestLeonardo DiCaprioInternational movie star Leonardo DiCaprio, who is also an environmentalist dedicated to the protection and wellbeing of all earth's inhabitants, has kicked against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government’s plan to mine bauxite in the Atewa forest reserve in Ghana’s Eastern Region. The Densu River, which flows from the Atewa Forest, feeds the Weija Reservoir that provides close to 2.5 million people in Accra with water. Despite opposition from a number of groups for the government to withdraw the agreement, President Akufo-Addo insists the mining of bauxite in the Atewa forest will be guided by best international practices and technology to ensure that the wildlife in the mining environment is not endangered. A new national park at Atewa forest can deliver sustainable jobs and livelihoods for many people and, as part of a living landscape, can provide new economic opportunities”. Despite these benefits, campaigners, water experts and environmentalists say the environmental cost will be too high for Ghana to bear.

Source: GhanaWeb November 13, 2019 09:42 UTC