Land degradation, soil infertility threaten food security – Tamale MCE warns

By Samuel SAM

The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Tamale, Abu Takoro, has raised alarm over worsening land degradation and declining soil fertility in the metropolis, warning that the situation is severely impacting food security, livelihoods, and general wellbeing.

Speaking at the national celebration of the 2025 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, held in Tamale, Mr. Takoro said the city continues to grapple with harmful environmental practices such as bushfires, deforestation, sand and gravel winning, uncontrolled urbanisation, and unsustainable farming methods.

“These practices have drastically depleted soil organic matter, reducing fertility and triggering poor crop yields, loss of water bodies, worsening poverty, and food insecurity,” he said.

Mr. Takoro emphasised that every household and individual in the metropolis is directly or indirectly affected by the ongoing environmental degradation.

“We therefore need a consensus effort to create sustained awareness amongst individuals, communities, and the general public about the causes, effects and impacts of desertification and drought on our lives,” he added.

The national celebration, organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, was held under the global theme “Restore the Land; Unlock the opportunities” and the national theme “One Child, One Tree.”

It brought together stakeholders including traditional authorities, schoolchildren, industry players, and civil society to promote environmental stewardship.

The event also witnessed the distribution of seedlings to selected schools and communities to inculcate a tree-planting culture in the youth, restore lost vegetation, and ensure environmental sustainability.

According to the him, environmental degradation has led to the drying up of rivers and streams, loss of essential biodiversity—including medicinal plants—changing rainfall patterns, and declining agricultural productivity.

“We must remember that we have a gift to cherish—the gift of Mother Nature. Our activities continue to erode nature’s precious endowments, putting humanity under severe stress and pressure,” Mr. Takoro said.

He stressed that failure to take immediate action would render interventions by government, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other development partners ineffective.

To address these challenges, the Assembly is working closely with traditional leaders, landowners, opinion leaders, schools, NGOs and civil society organisations to develop and implement community-based mechanisms and strategies, particularly to curb the rampant cutting of trees that fuels desertification.

He commended the EPA for its strong environmental education campaign in Tamale and across the Northern Region, stating that it has greatly improved public understanding of sustainable environmental practices and encouraged collective responsibility.

“With support from the EPA, some communities have developed local by-laws for natural resource management, while others have formed active volunteer squads to protect the environment,” he noted.

The EPA, he revealed, has over the years supported schools, communities, and individuals with more than 250,000 assorted tree seedlings to establish woodlots and re-green their surroundings.

Looking ahead, he said the assembly plans to implement an aggressive tree-planting and nurturing programme across the metropolis in 2025. As part of this, efforts are underway to collaborate with traditional authorities and stakeholders to demarcate areas for green spaces and biosphere hubs, which will be community-owned but protected by locally enacted and gazetted by-laws.

“Our goal is to restore the green vegetation cover, combat land degradation, and respond to climate change challenges in the Tamale Metropolis,” he affirmed.

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