A Rocha Ghana, a conservation-oriented organisation, has called for the immediate suspension of all destructive activities at Abrodwum, Abaase and surrounding communities within Lake Bosomtwe’s core zone.
Additionally, it has demanded a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible, for the restoration and protection of the lake’s core zone and a stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and bye-laws governing the Lake Bosomtwe area.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the organisation said reports received from residents of the Abrodwum community on the shores of Lake Bosomtwe indicated ongoing large-scale clearing and destructive activities within critical sections of the lake’s core zone.
It added that similar incidents have been observed in nearby communities, including Adwafo and Abaase, with indications that the activity may be spreading towards Abono and undertaken by unknown individuals or entities.
It said the current situation was deeply alarming as Abrodwum was not only a lakeside settlement but also home to the revered Abrodwum Stone, widely regarded as the spiritual centre of Lake Bosomtwe.
This sacred site, the statement said, played a vital role in Asante cultural and ceremonial practices, including rites personally overseen by the Asantehene during periods of poor fishing or perceived spiritual imbalance.
“The destruction of this area constitutes not only environmental damage but also a serious affront to cultural heritage,” it said.
It noted that the destruction within the core zone of the biosphere reserve is particularly concerning as it represented the most protected and ecologically sensitive area of the lake, indicating that damage to the zone risked irreversible consequences that could destabilise the entire ecosystem.
Following reports of the destruction of portions of the core zone of the Lake, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has held a meeting with a team from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to deliberate on the matter.
In a Facebook post, he ordered the cessation of all clearing activities around the lake with immediate effect and further tasked the EPA to commence investigations into the incident to bring perpetrators to book.
Further, he urged the EPA to lead efforts to restore the destroyed areas in a bid to protect the core zone of the lake from further destruction.
Background
Lake Bosomtwe, located in the Bosomtwe District, holds exceptional national and global importance.
It is Ghana’s only natural lake and one of just six known meteoritic lakes in the world, formed over one million years ago by a meteor impact.
Recognised as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve since 2016, the lake supports a delicate balance between biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
The biosphere reserve sustains diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands and mountainous terrain, and supports numerous wildlife species.
Again, more than 70,000 people across approximately 30 communities in the Ashanti Region depend on the lake for farming, fishing and tourism.
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Source:
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