Forestry Commission advised to pick community members for task force

Abuakwa (Ash), Sept 28, GNA - A former assembly member has suggested to the Forestry Commission to include community members in the formation of timber task force to ensure the protection of the country's forest against wanton destruction by illegal chainsaw operators. Mr Joseph Akintola Amankwaa, former assemblyman for the Mpasaso Number Two in the Ahafo-Ano South district, made the suggestion in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Abuakwa in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district of Ashanti.

He contended that most task force members who are not members of the community have no sense of belonging to the community and thus disaffection and lack of compassion lead them to collude with perpetrators to further deplete the forest.

Mr Amankwaa deplored the rate at which the forest was diminishing and warned of a possible failure of government's reforestation programme if adequate protective measures were not taken.