Combatting Climate Change; North Gonja DCE Pledges Sustainable Jobs to Halt Charcoal Business

By Iddrisu Hafiz, reporting from Daboya

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Gonja, Hon. Abdullah Nashiru, has pledged to create sustainable job opportunities for charcoal producers in the district in a bold move to curb deforestation and tackle the growing threat of climate change.

Speaking in Daboya, the district capital, Hon. Nashiru acknowledged the adverse environmental impact of charcoal production and vowed to introduce alternative livelihoods to wean the youth off the destructive trade. He said the district’s natural ecosystem—its flora and fauna—must be protected through innovative and sustainable economic interventions.

“We cannot continue sacrificing our environment for short-term economic gain. My administration is committed to providing skills training and job opportunities to our youth, especially those engaged in charcoal burning,” Hon. Nashiru stated.

Charcoal, popularly referred to as the “Black Diamond,” remains a major source of livelihood for thousands of people in rural Ghana, particularly in the northern regions. However, its environmental toll is alarming. Globally, it is estimated that over one million trees are cut down annually to produce charcoal, contributing significantly to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

In North Gonja, the charcoal trade continues to attract the youth, many of whom are drawn to it due to high unemployment rates, the absence of skills-based training, and the quick income the business provides.

“It’s not that we want to destroy trees, but there are no other jobs here. We just want to survive,” said Mohammed Yussif, a young charcoal loader in Daboya.

Another producer, Yussif Ibrahim, added, “Charcoal burning gives us money quickly. Until we get another source of income, we’ll continue doing it.”

Despite growing awareness of its environmental impact, the trade persists due to the lack of viable alternatives. Stronger winds, erratic rainfall patterns, and floods have become more frequent in parts of the Northern Region, often blamed on large-scale tree felling.

The DCE’s pledge comes at a time when calls for climate-conscious governance are intensifying. According to Hon. Nashiru, the Assembly is engaging with stakeholders, including NGOs and development partners, to implement reforestation projects and vocational training programs aimed at redirecting the youth from tree-cutting activities.

“We are not just going to ban charcoal burning; we are working to replace it with opportunities that are both economically and environmentally sustainable,” he emphasized.

However, until these promises materialize, the forests of North Gonja remain under threat. Chainsaws continue to roar across the district’s woodlands, felling hundreds of trees daily to feed the charcoal industry.

Environmental advocates are urging swift action to implement the DCE’s proposals before the district’s fragile ecosystem suffers irreversible damage.

As the climate crisis intensifies, local initiatives like those promised in North Gonja could serve as a critical front in Ghana’s broader efforts to achieve environmental sustainability and climate resilience.