MP for Zebila Shakes Parliament with Global Call to Action on Drought and Deforestation
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebila, Hon. Ebenezer Alumire Ndebilla, has drawn national attention with a passionate and far-reaching statement delivered on the floor of Parliament in commemoration of World Desertification and Drought Day, marked globally on June 17.
In a strong and emotive address, the lawmaker called on government agencies, civil society organisations, and local communities to take urgent and coordinated action to combat deforestation and land degradation, especially in the northern parts of Ghana.
“The time to act is now. When the last tree dies, the last man dies,” Hon. Ndebilla declared in Parliament. “We need immediate and sustained efforts to reforest our degraded lands and protect our environment for future generations.”
Speaking to journalists after the session, the MP underscored the devastating effects of deforestation and drought on livelihoods in his constituency and the Upper East Region at large.
“In Zebilla and surrounding areas, the environment is under serious threat from activities such as bush burning and the indiscriminate felling of trees for charcoal and fuelwood. This is destroying our soil and directly affecting agricultural productivity,” he lamented.
Hon. Ndebilla emphasized the science behind his appeal, explaining that tree loss leads to soil exposure, which increases sun penetration and destroys essential soil organisms. This, he noted, drastically reduces soil fertility and crop yield.
In his statement, the MP urged government institutions—especially the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture—to upscale and institutionalize the Trees for Life initiative as a key component of Ghana’s climate adaptation strategy.
“This initiative must not be a one-off event. It should be a permanent pillar of our national strategy, with sustainable funding for planting, nurturing, and growing trees—not just planting and forgetting them,” he urged.
He also called for practical solutions to support afforestation in arid zones.
“Watering trees is as important as planting them. In many parts of northern Ghana, water is scarce. Government must ensure infrastructure like boreholes is made available to support afforestation in these vulnerable regions,” he added.
Hon. Ndebilla further recommended the integration of agroforestry practices into Ghana’s farming systems, particularly encouraging the protection of indigenous economic trees such as shea and dawadawa. He called for the planting of leguminous trees that enrich soil nutrients and improve productivity.
Highlighting the importance of community participation, the Zebila MP urged local assemblies to collaborate with traditional authorities to enforce bylaws protecting forests and regulating tree felling.
“We need bylaws backed by traditional leaders and local assemblies to stop indiscriminate tree cutting. Everyone must be involved in safeguarding our environment.”
In response to media inquiries about next steps, the lawmaker revealed that he received commendations from parliamentary leadership to publish and widely circulate his statement to engage stakeholders beyond Parliament.
“We will put this statement on social media and other platforms to reach institutions and individuals interested in climate and environmental protection. Collaboration is the way forward,” Hon. Ndebilla stated.
He appealed to all sectors of society to rally around the environmental cause.
“Whether you’re in government, an NGO, a school, or a farming community, there’s something you can do to save our environment. We must all rise to the challenge—together.”
World Desertification and Drought Day is observed every year on June 17 to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification and drought. This year’s theme focuses on land restoration, resilience, and drought preparedness.
STATEMENT BY HON. EBENEZER ALUMIRE NDEBILLA, MP FOR ZEBILLA, ON THE WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT — DELIVERED ON THE FLOOR OF PARLIAMENT
Rt. Hon. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to make this statement to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought observed annually on June 17, a day that calls global attention to the urgent need to protect our land and safeguard our environment against degradation and water scarcity.
This year’s commemoration is on the theme ‘Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunities’. This year’s theme emphasizes the multiple benefits of land restoration, including improved livelihoods, increased food security and a healthy planet.This is of particular relevance to Ghana, and more specifically, Northern Ghana, where desertification, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts are not just environmental challenges, but daily realities threatening the livelihoods, food security, and very survival of our people.
Mr. Speaker, the northern savannah ecological zone, which includes my beloved constituency, Zebilla, and many others across the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, and Savannah Regions, are among the most vulnerable areas in the country.
Mr Speaker, communities in these regions are experiencing rising temperatures, declining soil fertility, shrinking water bodies, and devastating bushfires, all worsened by climate change and unsustainable land use practices. The consequences are real: low crop yields, food insecurity, increased migration, and worsening poverty.
It is in this context, Mr. Speaker that I wish to highlight the importance of the “Trees for Life” Initiative launched under the visionary leadership of President John Dramani Mahama. This bold afforestation programme was not just a symbolic gesture, but a strategic national response to combat the twin threats of desertification and drought, especially in our vulnerable northern regions.
Mr. Speaker, under this initiative, millions of tree seedlings, both economic and indigenous species were distributed and planted across the country, with special focus on degraded areas in Ghana. Communities, schools, faith-based groups, and local assemblies were mobilised to reclaim lost forest cover, promote climate resilience, and restore soil productivity. It was a grassroots movement with national significance.
What made the “Trees for Life” programme particularly effective, Mr. Speaker, was its integration with local livelihoods. Communities were encouraged to plant economic trees such as shea, dawadawa, and mango, and cashew— thereby linking environmental restoration with income generation. The initiative also employed thousands of youth under the Youth Employment Agency and Forestry Commission, offering both skills and jobs in forest regeneration.
Mr. Speaker, we must acknowledge that although the initiative will undoubtedly make significant strides, deforestation and land degradation continue to threaten Northern Ghana. The annual loss of tree cover due to illegal logging, charcoal production, bushfires, and poor farming practices remained a threat and can reverse gains that the Tree for Life will bring. In addition, changing rainfall patterns have made traditional farming seasons increasingly unpredictable.
Therefore, I call on this House and the government to:
- Reinvigorate and upscale the “Trees for Life” initiative, making it a permanent pillar of Ghana’s climate adaptation strategy.
- Ensure sustainable funding for tree planting, watering, and protection, especially in the north where water access is a challenge.
- Expand public education on the dangers of desertification and the importance of indigenous tree species.
- Promote agroforestry and sustainable farming as key tools to combat land degradation.
- Enhance collaboration with traditional authorities and local assemblies to enforce bye-laws against indiscriminate tree felling and bush burning.
Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate this important day, let us remember that the battle against desertification and drought is not one of science alone, it is one of survival and intergenerational justice.
We owe it to the farmers of Zebilla, the schoolchildren in Chereponi, the women Shea collectors in Tumu (Sissala), and the future generations of Ghana to protect the land they depend on.
Let us act boldly and urgently for indeed, when the last tree dies, the last man dies.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker for the opportunity.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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