Plantation development programme starts in Accra

Accra, Nov. 6, GNA- A Steering Committee for the implementation of the governments' plantation development programme was on Thursday inaugurated in Accra.

The committee, which aims at restoring, degraded forest reserves, farm forestry development outside reserves and restoring urban forestry has the Regional Coordinating Director, Mr F.T Nartey, as the Chairman. The other members are the Regional Manager, Forestry Commission, the Regional Director, Lands Commission, the Regional Director Parks and Gardens, Regional Director Town and Country Planning, Regional Director Environmental Protection Agency.

The rest are the Regional Surveyor, Survey Department, Regional Labour Officer and the Zonal Coordinator for Forestry Plantations. Shiekh I.C. Quaye Greater Accra Regional Minister who inaugurated the committee said the alarming rate at which the country's forests are being depleted has been a source of concern to the government. He said the programme has an objective of planting 100,000 hectares of various species over the next five years and it is expected to create about 100,000 full time jobs and 330 enhanced jobs.

"The decline of our forests has been attributed largely to uncontrolled logging activities, improper agronomic practices, bush fires and charcoal burning"

He said some measures, which include an annual anti-bush fires campaign, setting up of timber task forces to clamp down illegal timbers dealers among others, have been adopted to reverse the trend but have not yielded the desired result.

Shiekh I.C.Quaye urged members of the committee to work extra hard to achieve the set target in the programme.

He charged members of the committee to start work immediately and avoid pettiness in their deliberations since the programme was time bound.

He told the committee, "The task ahead of you is very challenging but with commitment and adoption of best practices you will succeed". 06 Nov 03