Minister calls for collaborative efforts to fight bush fires
Minister calls forcollaborative efforts to fight bush fires
18 December 2007
published by http://gbcghana.com
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ernest Akobour Debrah has charged traditional rulers; District Chief Executives as well as Regional Coordinating Councils to come up with measures that would help curb bush fires in the country. He also urged farmers and other users of fire to ensure a fire free environment during the dry season.
Mr. Debrah made these points at the launching of this years national anti bush fire campaign at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Tano north district of the Brong Ahafo Region. He appealed to parliament to take a second look at legislations on bush fires to ensure a fire free country and help achieve its required economic development.
The Deputy Minister for Lands Forestry and Mines, Mr. Adjei Yeboah said his ministry has come out with a national wildlife management policy which seeks to address wildfires in a multi sectoral manner.
He appealed to all sectors of the economy to embrace the policy for a sustainable natural resource management. The Brong Ahafo regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Barfour Awuah revealed that out of the 261 fires recorded in the region in 2006, 80 were bush fires. He therefore appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders to work hand in hand with government agencies to fight against bush fires.
A Minister of state at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen said over the past 10 years, 65,000 hectares of forest cover have been destroyed by fire. He said government has increased the number of firemen by 2,775 and called on all to help assist fire volunteers to encourage them to put in their best.
