New Abirem (E/R), Sept. 3, GNA- Mr. Joseph Bempah, Kade District Forestry Manager, on Monday announced that more than 81,000 hectares of different species of trees had been so far planted under the National Plantation Development Programme.
He said the programme, aimed at developing 200,000 hectares of forest plantation within the next 20 years had offered employment for over 47,000 people on full time and 1,049,833 people on part time as at December 2006.
Mr. Bempah was speaking at the launch of the Greener Ghana Programme for the Birim North, Kwaebibirem and West Akyem districts at New Abirem in the Eastern Region.
He noted that the country had lost 70 percent of its forest within the past five decade at a rate of 1.3 percent per annum through logging, bush fires, clearance for agriculture activities and "galamsey" mining. Mr. Bempah said the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, was also implementing six forest plantation projects towards the restoration of the forest cover as well as employment creation for the rural and deprived urban communities.
This, he said, included the modified taungya system, the government forestry plantation development project and community forest management projects being funded by the Japanese International Co-operation Agency.
Mr Bempa said 10 communities including New Abirem, Amoana Praso, Amenam, Pankese, Abenaso, Adausena and Oseikrom involving 486 farmers had planted 360 hectares of forest reserve in the Ajenjua Bepo, Jade Bepo, Kwakru and the Mamang River at the end of June this year. He said arrangements were under way to allocate 40 percent share of the trees to the participating farmers who would maintain them to maturity.
Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah, the Minister for Lands Forestry and Mines, said there would be no poverty in the district if natural resources such as gold, timber, palm oil and cocoa were properly managed to enhance the development of the people.
She said she would assist Newmont Mining Company to acquire mining license to commence mining of the large deposit of gold in the area. The Minister advised the people to cooperate with the mining company to ensure payment of adequate compensation of crops that would be destroyed during its operations.
Mr. Emmanuel Nana Acquah Frempong, the District Chief Executive, commended the Minister who is also the Member of Parliament MP for the area for awarding scholarships and bursaries to 200 students in the area to enable them to further their education in second cycle and tertiary institutions.
