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The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called on traditional rulers in Akyem Abuakwa to ensure that none of the natural resources, especially the forests and water bodies, within their jurisdictions is destroyed. He reiterated his call on the government to support traditional rulers in Akyem Abuakwa to flush out illegal miners and chain-saw operators. The Okyenhene made the call when he addressed the chiefs and people of Osiewuo, one of the divisions of Akyem Abuakwa, at a mini-durbar at Takorase, near Kade, last Friday. The durbar, which formed part of activities marking this year�s Okyeman Environmental Week, on the theme, �Rise up and Join the Fight Against Degradation�, was attended by Daasebre Nyarko Asimadu Appiah II, the Head of the Osiewuo Division; Nana Owusu Nketiah II, the Chief of Takorase; Osabarima Adu Gyamfi II, the Chief of Okumanin, and Baffour Adjei Sefi, the Amankrado of Takorase. As part of the celebration, the Okyenhene and his courtiers toured a number of towns, such as Okumanin, Daamang, Abompe, Suabe, Otumi, Kwae and Takorase, during which he carried the messages on environmental preservation and the need for parents to give formal education to their children to the people. The Okyenhene warned that any chief within Akyem Abuakwa who would personally or willingly aid others to illegally cut down trees or engage in illegal mining would be severely dealt with. He appealed to the government to support chiefs by arresting all those found engaged in illegal mining and lumbering. Education Touching on education, Osagyefo Ofori Panin said the lack of education had led to endemic poverty not only in Akyem Abuakwa but also every part of the country and made a passionate appeal to parents to invest in the education of their children. He further urged teachers to give their best to reverse the current trend of mass failure of pupils at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Okyeman Environment Foundation Earlier, Mr Gyimah Amoako-Gyimah, the Executive Secretary of the Okyeman Foundation, a body set up by Okyeman to preserve the environment, had indicated that the Okyenhene would be touring many communities, especially those on the fringes of the forests, to see how best to come up with alternative livelihood ventures for the people, so that they would not depend on mining or lumbering.