VP launches environmental protection programme

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Thursday, launched a 12-billion cedi environmental protection programme for the Brong Ahafo Region aimed at controlling bush fires and regenerating the forest cover to protect water basins.

Speaking at a ceremony at Techiman, he called on district assemblies and traditional authorities to jointly manage the five-year programme, which would employ 350 people effectively.

Alhaji Mahama expressed concern about the rapid loss of forest cover, which had affected 12 of the 13 districts in the region and said "degradation of our forest resources through inappropriate concession management practices has put our forests and national economy at risk".

He said the felling of timber without effective afforestation measures pose a grave danger to the survival of forests. The Vice President also attributed the destruction of hectares of forest and the degradation of Savannah lands on bushfires

Alhaji Mahama, noted that, culprits of such negative practices rarely get arrested and prosecuted and said some assemblies even encourage chainsaw operators to exploit protected trees, which are not mature.

The Vice President charged assemblies to deal drastically with environmental offenders and said the programme managed effectively would lead to the increase of water in rivers and water basins for domestic and irrigation purposes.

An improvement in the forest cover would result in a micro-climatic environment for improved agricultural practices in the region, described as the nation's food basket. He appealed to farmers and concession owners to adopt environmental friendly practices to save the forest from further degradation.

Mr Ernest A. Debrah, Regional Minister, noted that, the volume of water in the Tano River and its tributaries had drastically reduced over the past few years because of the depletion of the vegetation along the river.

Mr Debrah said the Tano River, which runs through five districts in the region and enters the Western Region, must be protected as a main source of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes.

He urged non-governmental organisations, business concerns, district assemblies and communities to undertake massive tree plantation projects to protect water bodies and the environment.

Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Science and Environment, urged those engaged in plantation programmes to nurture the trees to maturity and to protect them against bush fires. He called for the formation of environmental protection volunteer corps to arrest offenders

The Minister said a Desertification Fund would be established with the support of international partners to assist communities in the three regions in the northern part of the country and Brong Ahafo who depend solely on the environment for their sustenance to seek alternative livelihoods.

Professor Kasim Kasanga, Minister of Lands and Forestry, said the nation's forest cover had reduced from 18 million hectares to less than two million hectares over the years and cautioned Forestry and Land Commission officials to desist from condoning with those who destroy the environment.