Minister castigates former Forestry Plantation Development Fund Board

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Forest Resources on Wednesday reprimanded former members of the Forestry Plantation Development Fund Board for fragrant abuse of their mandate. He said the board members failed to adhere to the constitutional requirement, which mandated them to submit an annual report and audited account not later than six months, after the end of each financial year through the sector ministry to Parliament.

The board also in contravention of the Forestry Plantation Development Fund Act, invested the chunk of about GH¢226 million accrued for the development of the industry in other money making ventures.

"The former board until it was dissolved early this year failed to supervise beneficiaries of the funds, in contravention of their mandate, which stipulates that the board or any person authorised by it may at any reasonable time enter into a plantation, which is a beneficiary of the fund to inspect it," Alhaji Dauda said in Accra. Alhaji Dauda made this known while inaugurating the newly constituted seven-member board, headed by Osagyefo Osiadeeyo Nana Agyemang Badu II, Dormahene.

He tasked the new board to investigate the operations of its predecessor.

The membership of the new board appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State, include the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Forestry, a representative from Forestry Commission, Tree Growers Association, Ghana Timber Association and Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

The rest are a representative from Ghana Timber Millers Organisation, the Fund Management Bank and a donor or a financial agency, which contributes to the Fund a sum of money equal to or greater than the initial deposit derived from the proceeds of the export levy. The Forestry Plantation Development Fund Board is mandated to administer the Fund and encourage investment in commercial forest plantation development.

Other responsibilities include facilitating best practices for optimum timber plantation establishment and management, promote a feasible scheme that supports related forest projects, and monitor the progress of the scheme to ensure compliance with the objects of the Act. Alhaji Dauda reminded the board of the objective of the fund, which is to provide financial assistance for the development of private forest plantation on lands suitable for commercial timber production. The rest are to research and offer technical advice to persons involved in commercial plantation forestry on specified conditions, adopt a private sector forest plantation development scheme and promote investment in commercial forest plantation development through incentives and other benefits.

The minister also tasked the Board to prepare a private sector forest plantation development scheme, to cover up to 200,000 hectares of land for a period of not less than 10 years and not more than 25 years. Nana Agyemang Badu II on behalf of the members of the board thanked President John Evans Atta Mills for the confidence repose in them, stressing that "the board would work in accordance with its constitutional mandate, submit its report on time and develop a transparent scheme for disbursement of funds". 12 Aug. 09