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Bush burning disturbing herbalists in Upper West

Mon, 15 Dec 2003 Source: GNA

Nadowli, Dec. 15, GNA - Herbalists in the Upper West Region can no longer get certain tree species for the treatment of some ailments due to scarcity as a result of annual bushfires.

"Although we know the kind of roots, bark and leaves to use to treat such ailments it is very difficult to get those tree species because of frequent bush-burning," he said.

Mr Mahama Topie, Upper West Regional Chairman of Traditional Healers Association, was speaking at Nadowli where the Regional anti-bushfire campaign was launched.

He appealed to traditional healers to team up with district assemblies, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce and eventually halt the high level of bush burning in the region.

"If we do not stop this practice, it would come to a time we would not get a single tree to show to our children's children". Mr Edmund Asem, Public Relations Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Northern Electricity Department (NED), said the VRA spent at least 22 million cedis annually in weeding round pylons and electricity poles and called for the elimination bush burning to enable them get better electricity services.

Source: GNA