John Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu constituency
Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu constituency in the Northern Region, John Jinapor, has raised concerns as to why an amount of GHC1.5 million was donated to Okyenhene for environment and greening when the forestry commission is functional.
According to him, GNPC must provide details on the kind of trees Okyenhene would be planting and if he is collaborating with the Forestry Commission in achieving the purpose of the project.
This follows after the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) approved an amount of GHC1.5m towards the 20th anniversay of the paramount chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Panin.
The GHC1.5m donation to Okyenhene is to be used for environment and greening and will be paid over a period of three years.
Concerns were raised after details of the financial requests by GNPC's Brand, Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) emerged.
Speaking on the matter, the legislator said "When this things come we need details. what kind of trees? Is he collaborating with the forestry commission; what is the forestry commission doing that Okyehene now has to be planting trees. We have agencies that conduct these jobs and so if you have another paramount chief who says he wants to conduct security the first question will be that what is the police service doing. Is the police service incapacitated? Is the person collaborating with the police service? Is the Okeyehene collaborating with the forestry commission. What trees are we growing? What is the cost and how do we sustain it. I think this are issues we ought to be looking at as a nation."
"When we do these things is not as if we are against one chief or the other but we are only seeking to do what is proper or right and can other chief also engage in fish farming, snail rearing and all kinds of things. These are legitimate calls that has come up and we must take them up and deal with them".
