Forest Plantation Development Fund board inaugurated

Mr Peter Amewu, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has urged the newly inaugurated board members of the Forest Plantation Development Fund to be united and steer the affairs of the fund.

He charged the Board to come up with ideas to tackle the menace of illegal mining, which had engulfed the forest cover saying ‘you need to exhibit your energy to the highest ability.’

Mr Amewu said this in Accra at the inauguration of an 11-member Board of the fund to oversee the successful implementation of the Forest Plantation Development Fund and to provide policy guidance, review progress of the programme and approve budgets for operational activities.

The members include Nana Yaw Osei Barima, Chairman of the Board, while the co-opted members are Mr Benson Oduro, Ms Philomena Serwaa Akoto Sam, Mr George Donkor, Mr Charles Fynn, Mr Emmanuel Bodja, and Mr Kenneth Kodjo Ayim.

The rest of the members are Mr Dennis Hiadzi, Ms Sylvia Nyante, Dr Emmanuel Marfo and Professor Patrick Agbesinyale.

The Board members took the oath of secrecy, which was administered by the Minister.

Mr Amewu said the plantation played a critical role in the development of the country and urged them to come up with strategies to deal with climate change, since the menace was caused by human activities.

He said in order to improve the livelihoods of the people; the Fund had been initiated to create massive employment through plantation establishment across the country.

The programme aims at planting trees as a means of creating jobs through tree seedling production, forest fire prevention, and to enhance Ghana’s efforts at reducing greenhouse gases emission.

He also asked members to use their expertise to encourage investment in forest plantation development through incentives and any other benefits, facilitate best practices for optimum timber plantation establishment and management.

The Chairman pledged their commitment to work to ensure compliance with the forest plantation development fund Act 583.

He said the Board would work to promote a feasible scheme that supports related forest projects and as well monitor the progress of the scheme.