Okyenhene Wants Traditional Authorities To Issue Licence For Logging

Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin I, has advocated for amendment of existing laws to enable traditional authorities to superintend in their traditional areas.

He said the amendment would enable the Councils since they are on the ground and close to their areas of authority to monitor the operations of timber firms in order to check excesses.

Responding to a question during a meeting with Hon. Hillary Ben, British Minister of State for International Development during his 15-day working visit to the UK, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin said through vigilance, activities of illegal operators had been curtailed.

At the meeting, attended by H.E. Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta, C.E.O of Databank and Mr. Otchere Darko, Press Secretary to the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, spoke at length on measures the Okyeman Traditional Council had instituted to protect the environment including setting up of an environmental brigade to see to the control of chainsaw operators.

Osagyefuo said the Okyeman Traditional Council was ever ready to release lands to investors for ventures that would create jobs for the people.

He suggested that lands previously acquired in the past by the central government which were not being utilised should be re-allocated back to the traditional authorities.

On issues relating to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Osagyefuo said through concerted efforts, the Akyem traditional area had been able to create awareness of the adverse effects of the disease.

He said the provision of materials on the disease at vantage points within the area, the celebration of AIDS week and the willingness of people in the area to take voluntary tests had helped to change peoples attitude to the disease.

Osagyefuo discussed the possibility of a direct relationship between Okyenhene and DFID which will lead to British support for specific pilot projects in his traditional area.

Hon. Hillary Ben commend Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin I for his various initiatives especially on health and protection of the environment and assured him of the British Government’s support wherever feasible.

In his intervention, Mr. Isaac Osei described Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin I as one of the traditional chiefs who had been very vocal in the release of unutilised lands to traditional authorities.

He said the clamour for release of lands had arisen because of the prevailing liberal environment engendered by the New Patriotic Party Government, which had given new lease of life to the people of Ghana to voice out their feelings on national issues.

Mr. Osei said the movement from Project Aid to Programme Aid by DFID was a clear expression of confidence in the Government. He indicated that Traditional Authorities which required direct support for specific projects could satisfy these wishes through the District Assemblies on which they are represented and exhibit the same level of transparency and accountability which the NPP Government has shown.