Techiman (B/A), March 12, GNA - Mr. Pierre Kwabena Ankomah, Techiman Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called on the Municipal Assembly's Task Force checking illegal tree felling in the Woraso Forest Reserve to extend their operations to other areas. He noted that the rampant illegal felling of trees in areas outside reserves was degrading the environment.
Mr. Ankomah who was reacting to reports by programme and field officers of the Commission at the end of an environmental protection and anti-bushfire campaign from January to February this year said chiefs, opinion leaders and Assembly Members in communities complained about illegally felling of trees.
Nana Agyei Bempa, Odikro of Koofoso on the Sunyani-Techiman road, called for the strict enforcement of the by-laws to protect the environment and illegal tree felling. Mr. Augustine Effah, Chairman of the Unit Committee said illegal sand winning had contributed to the drying up of Metimasua, a stream in the area. Nana Appiah Zakaria, Techiman Municipal second Best Farmer in 2004 and Best Cocoa Farmer for the area in 2000 noted that the anti bushfire campaign and the efforts to resuscitate cocoa farms could be affected by the indiscriminate felling of trees. Mr. Emmanuel Amoako, Assistant Field Officer of the Commission said Nana Kwarteng Ameyaw, Odikro of Nsuta, expressed concern about the activities of group hunters, which were destroying the environment.
