DCE warns against destruction of environment

Larteh (E/R), March 10, GNA - Mr Anthony Gyampo, Akuapem North District Chief Executive, on Thursday decried persistent plundering of the environment by some people in the area, and warned that anyone caught indiscriminately felling trees or setting bushfires would be prosecuted.

Mr Gyampo gave the warning during a clean-up exercise organised jointly by the Concerned Citizens Association of Ghana (CCAG), the Guan Merante Fekuo and Youth Association of Larteh.

He, however, commended the Larteh branch of the CCAG for making tree planting along the Akuapim Ranges their top priority. To complement their effort, the DCE appealed to chiefs and landowners to make land available to the association for its projects.

Mr Paul Gyampo, assembly member for Larteh Kobase, told members of the association to be vigilant and resist attempts by anyone to farm along the banks of rivers and streams.

He said tree planting should be viewed as a collective responsibility of all Ghanaians, and appealed to the people of Agyikuma and Dodowa to stop felling trees and engaging in other practices that destroy the ecology.

Mr E. D. Agyemfra, National Project Director of the CCAG, warned those who still deal in chain saw operations and charcoal burning to desist from their illegal activities or face the full rigours of the law.

He also advised charcoal burners to plant their own trees instead of depending on forest reserves. He appealed to all patriotic citizens to report any person found using a chain saw to fell trees in the area to the police.