Government has authorized the Forestry Commission (FC) to acquire guns for forest guards to squarely face unscrupulous people who illegally cut trees to deplete the forest cover in the country.
Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, aka ‘Sir John,’ the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, who made the announcement, described the development as a good omen for his outfit in its quest to protect the forest.
“I am pleased to announce that permit has been granted to the Forestry Commission by the appropriate quarters to purchase an assortment of guns to equip our Rapid Response Unit, which protect the forest on a daily basis.
“This is good news, as it would enable the Rapid Response Unit of the Forestry Commission to be in a good position to squarely face unscrupulous people whose modus operandi is to destroy the forest through the illegal cutting of trees,” he said.
According to him, people who illegally cut trees in the forest to enrich themselves are armed with sophisticated guns and have an advantage over members of the Rapid Response Unit.
In this regard, Sir John, who was elated, stated that the new directive would surely reduce the illegal felling of trees in the forest.
He disclosed this at the launch of the 7th Forestry Week and Greening Ghana Day in commemoration of the International Dar of the Forest.
The day was marked across the globe on March 21, 2018, but Ghana observed it on Monday.
The historic programme was held at Sakra Wonoo in the Ashanti Region, which is the hometown of Sir John.
Sakra Wonoo’s rich forest reserve is under threat due to sand winning and other activities.
The commission, which is determined to protect all forest reserves in the country, therefore organized the programme in the town to create awareness about the protection of the forest.
Sir John stressed the need for the public to support efforts to protect the forest.
Giving statistics to buttress his argument that indeed the forest was being depleted, he said in just one year, a whopping 54,000 trees had been seized by the FC which means that 952.7 hectares in the forest had been destroyed.
The CEO of FC disclosed that during the same period, 185 people were arrested and prosecuted for destroying the forest, adding that most of them were jailed by the various courts in the country.
Sir John said 80 vehicles and other machines had also been destroyed by his outfit.
The programme was under the theme, ‘Maintaining a Balance between Urbanization and Forest Conservation.’
John Peter Amewu, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Simon Osei-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi, S.K. Boafo, ex-Ashanti Regional Minister, George Brobbey and Kwabena Kokofu, were in attendance.
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