Okyenhene calls for rotation of National Days celebrations

Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori-Panin, Okyenhene, at the weekend called for the rotation of National Day celebrations among the 10 regions.

This, he said, would help speed up the provision of the needed infrastructure in the regions.

The Okyenhene, who made the call at the second session of the Okyeman Council at Kyebi on Friday, noted that, in preparation for the day, government puts the necessary structures in place for the host region, thereby improving its infrastructure.

Osagyefuo Ofori-Panin urged politicians to desist from politicising women and children's issues because they are serious matters that deserve national attention.

He also suggested that stiffer punishment should be imposed on people who defile, rape or impregnate teenagers.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr. Francis Osafo-Mensah, urged traditional authorities who give lands to Fulani herdsmen to ensure that they fence their ranches to prevent their cattle from destroying other people's farms.

He said reports reaching his office indicated that the issue is Degenerating into a conflict situation, which, if not checked, could affect the security of the region.

Dr. Osafo-Mensah appealed to the chiefs to take steps to dispose of chieftaincy disputes pending before the judicial committees of both Traditional Councils and the Regional Houses of Chiefs.

Mr. Raphael Yeboah, Eastern Regional Forestry Officer, said his office had withdrawn some of the forest guards in many of the Akyem Abuakwa communities because they have been subjected to attacks during which some of them were wounded and some equipment and properties of the Forestry Commission were destroyed.

Mr. Francois Reuter, Forest Adviser, said the British Department for International Development (DFID) had selected the East Akim and Dormaa Districts for a pilot project in forestry management using local voluntary Forest Committees.

The Committees will help protect the remaining forests in the communities outside the forest reserves through the establishment of woodlots and planting of trees as wind breaks.

Mr. Reuters said the Committee would also help in the promotion of alternative livelihood programmes like snail, mushroom and grasscutter farming among members of their communities