Bush fires destroy cocoa and foodstuff farms

Bush fires have destroyed more than 20.2 hectares of cocoa and foodstuff farms at Gyatokurom, Adowa, Koteneso and Daban, near Jacobu, in the Amansie East District of the Ashanti Region.

Samuel Nkrumah-Gyimah, Member of Parliament for Odotobri Constituency, has, therefore, appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to assist the farmers with cash, seedlings and farming implements to rejuvenate their burnt farms.

He also advised the people to refrain from careless handling of naked light during the harmattan season and to also desist from dumping refuse and other waste materials in gutters and other unauthorised places especially during the rainy season.

Nkrumah-Gyimah was briefing newsmen in Accra after he had visited the area to see the extent of damage and console the victims of the bushfires. He said a Spokesman for the farmers and the Odikro of Gyatokurom Community, Nana Wireko Ampem told him that an 80 year-old farmer, Opanin Kojo Dankwa of Adowa Community caused the bushfire when he failed to put off the fire he used to cook in his farm after the day's work.

Nkrumah-Gyimah, therefore, entreated citizens of the constituency, who are mostly farmers to be wary of the dangers posed by bushfire and floods, explaining that most disasters and communicable diseases that cause havoc in the society could be avoided if they paid attention to their environment.

He reminded the people that disasters often brought about untold hardships and they must, therefore, refrain from careless handling of naked light. The Member of Parliament appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Transport to expedite action on improving the poor road network in the area, especially the Afoako - Jacobu- Abuakwaa and Huu - Atabrakoso roads and re-construct the bridge over river Adaasu, which was abandoned about a decade ago. The Odikro of Gyatokurom, Nana Wireko Ampem thanked the MP for his timely visit to the farmers and urged him to assist them to replant their farms and continue with their livelihood.