Okyehene calls for preservation of the environment

Techiman (B/A), Aug. 25, GNA - Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyehene, has said traditional rulers owed it a duty to help preserve the environment and its eco-system for posterity. He said chiefs as custodians of the land must rise to the occasion to protect the environment.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin, who is Chairman of the Forest Plantation Board, said this when he met some chiefs and people of Techiman at the Ohene Ameyaw Palace as part of his tour of some traditional areas in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

He said past traditional leaders, in their natural wisdom, designated some forest areas under their authority as holy, a clear manifestation of their commitment to protect the environment. The Okyehene appealed to the chiefs to collaborate with the government and forestry institutions to combat desertification and provide support to re-forestation programmes in their areas of jurisdiction.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin appealed to the chiefs to support the development of education "as it is the key to development and the transformation of the country".

He noted that for Ghanaians to survive in the global economy, which had become knowledge-based, it was expedient for chiefs to support their subjects to acquire highly skilled education. Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, commended the Okyehene for his onerous stewardship to the forestry sector and described as excellent his leadership qualities as a traditional ruler. He stressed the need for other traditional rulers to emulate the Okyehene. 25 Aug 08