The House of Chiefs of the Upper East Region has advocated for a decrease in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to make it more accessible to the region's citizens.
The House of Chiefs said that this would prevent them from destroying trees for firewood and charcoal, which was causing the region's vegetative cover to deteriorate.
Residents would be able to afford LPG if the price was low, according to the House, and the chopping down of trees for firewood and charcoal for commercial and household uses, particularly in rural regions, would be minimized.
On behalf of the region, Naba Sigri Bewong, the Paramount Chief of the Sakoti Traditional Area in the Nabdam District, issued the appeal.
People would be forced to rely on charcoal for household uses if the price of LPG was significantly greater than the price of charcoal, as it is now, he claims, which would eventually impact the region's vegetation.
Trees, according to Naba Bewong, play an important function in the ecosystem and assist to encourage human survival through the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, noting that humans breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, which is utilised by trees.
"As a result, if the government wants us to lower carbon dioxide concentration in the environment, we will push it to take strong actions to cut the price of LPG," the Paramount Chief stated.