Research institute appeals to Asantehene to consolidate lands

Kumasi (Ashanti), 24th June 99 ?

Professor Walter Alhassan, Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has appealed to Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to help consolidate the 270,000 acres of land allocated to CSIR at Fumesua and Kwadaso to prevent encroachment.

He made the appeal when the CSIR and all directors of subsidiary bodies paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Tuesday.

The Director-General said since most of their institutes are agriculturally based, the lands are acquired for researches in agriculture and forestry.

The lush green stretch of lands could be preserved as wood logs and forests which would not only help halt the continuous degradation of the environment but also serve as tourists attraction spots.

Prof Alhassan said the CSIR, if given the necessary assistance, has the capability to use the knowledge of its experts in forestry to bring the city of Kumasi to its former Glory as the "garden city of West Africa".

The CSIR presented gifts comprising agricultural textbooks for junior and senior secondary schools worth over two million cedis, a crate of Schnapps, a soil map of the Ashanti region plus two million cedis cash to the Asantehene.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed gratitude to the CSIR for the gifts and called on them to bring their useful findings to the doorstep of the ordinary farmer to boost agriculture.

The Asantehene also advised universities to liaise with the CSIR and use their findings as teaching materials and called on industries to fund and utilise CSIR research findings.