President Rawlings Warns Against Forest Degradation

Begoro (Eastern Region), 7 Oct.,

President J.J. Rawlings has warned that unless bushfires are controlled and forest resources sustainably exploited, Ghana will become a net importer of wood. The warning is contained in a speech read for him by Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, chairman of the Council of State, at a durbar to climax the ''Ahwie'' festival of the chiefs and people of Fanteakwa at Begoro yesterday. President Rawlings regretted that the formerly high forested area is becoming large patches of savanna grasslands due to inappropriate farming methods, bushfires and over-exploitation of forest resources. To halt the menace of environmental degradation in the area, President Rawlings requested the Fanteakwa District Assembly and its forestry department to come out with meaningful plans for the control of the bushfires to reduce the rate of deforestation. The possibilities of agro-forestry, he advised, should be fully explored and farmers encouraged to integrate tree crops for fuel, fodder or fruits, into their farming practices to protect and improve the soil. President Rawlings stressed the need for the people to embrace family planning. He referred to the 3.08 per cent growth rate in the district's population growth rate between 1970 and 1984, and said this is ''above the national average''. He asked the people to make the Ahwie festival a relevant institution by working out plans to reduce, if not eliminate, problems such as inadequate socio-economic infrastructure and transforming the district into a vibrant piece of economy towards the goals of Vision 2020.