AUTHOR: Richard D. Nimako TITLE: Africa’s Environment In Peril, A glimpse at Ghana’s reclamation efforts PAGES: 263 PUBLISHER: Advent Press, La, Accra DISTRIBUTION: EPP Bookshops, Kingdom Books, Vidya Bookstore, Booknook and Amazon PRICE: GHc 150 FOREWORD BY: Prof. Raymond A. Tutu REVIEWER: Nii Addokwei Moffatt In these times when illegal mining, popularly known in Ghana as Galamsey, (the corrupted version of “Gather Them and Sell”) is top of the news, especially in view of the many negatives ascribed to its operations across many areas in the country, this book authored by R.D. Nimako, comes at an opportune time. His Lordship Justice Alexander Osei Tutu, Justice of the High Court of Ghana and the Gambia, succinctly describes the situation in a blurb at the back of the book as follows. “Undeniably. No generation has degraded the environment more than those in the 21st Century. Refreshingly, the recognition of a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right by the United Nations General Assembly, (UNGA) in 2022, is there to show the extent to which the protection of the environment is inexorable”. The author posits that the environment is essential to life. Without it, humans, plants or animals cannot live because life will become extinct and even though the trio depend on the environment for survival, only humans can preserve it for the good of all. However, those who should preserve the environment, are rather indulging in the reckless exploitation of natural resources, the wanton destruction of the very elements that support life and the persistent refusal to heed sound environmental reclamation protocols, suggest they care less about their sacred duty to protect and preserve our heritage. In the forward by Prof. Raymond Tutu of the Delaware State University, he noted that the author brings alive global environmental change dynamics across scales, from national to regional and adds that ”Critical contemporary environmental challenges of importance to health, including but not limited to the treatment of electronic waste, disposal of plastic waste, and poor land management practices, are well explained and illustrated”. In the Preface the author contends that the extent of environmental degradation in Africa is so worrying that it should arouse every true African to action because the natural landscape has virtually disappeared, due to both natural and human factors, and calls for a paradigm shift from devastation to prudent management in the supreme interest of the present and future generations. In twelve chapters, R.D. Nimako touches on the state of Africa’s vegetation from European colonialization to assessing Ghana’s resistance to environmental degradation and presents an elaborate outlook of the layout of Africa, pointing out all its relief features; oceans, coastlands, deserts, forests, savannas, highlands, valleys and various kinds of freshwater bodies. He also presents maps, legends, photos and references among others, to illustrate his presentation. From the first chapter, it is clear that his aim of using the book as his contribution to the learning process to aid the reclamation and preservation of the environment is well on course. In Chapter 2, he looks at Africa’s current state of vegetation, especially the Sahara, overgrazing, deforestation, bad farming practices, climate change, uncontrolled mining of mineral resources among others. Readers will find the information laid out in 61 pages, very interesting, and for those in academia, the materials and additional references would proof valuable in their research activities. The vegetation of Ghana is also treated and R.D. Nimako looks at the wildlife, national reserved parks, water, air and plastic pollution, electronic waste and bad land management. The provision of these detailed information are supported with photographs, which aptly support the presentation. Under the heading, “Special Operations to Fight Against Environmental Degradation”, the author devotes a chapter to Galamsey and lists the efforts by government, to curb the upsurge of the canker. Operation Vanguard, Galamstop Task Force, Operation Halt II were some of the operations employed to stop this illegal mining activities. Currently Galamsey is trending for all the wrong reasons and I believe the need to halt it, is now. It is degrading our forests and destroying our water bodies and more people are now beginning to see and understand its long term effects on our environment and our health. The book however treats the deeper consequences of all forms of degradation to our environment and according to Prof. Daniel K. Asiedu, a Geologist, “The book discusses the issue of environmental preservation in the Ghanaian context, in an easy to read and understand format. It is very comprehensive and covers the full spectrum of the subject- causes, effects, and situation management practices….” And he urges you to “Read it cover-to-cover to understand and appreciate the complex issues of environmental preservation”. Pick a copy of this well researched book, and as Prof. Baffour Agyeman- Duah says, “Our time is beset by environmental degradation. This fascinating and lucid book exposes the reader to the dangers ahead and the need to educate for environmental preservation”. Reviewers Email: niiaddokwei@yahoo.com