Re-locate three Ministries to the hinterland - Okyehene

Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, Okyehene, on Wednesday called for the re-location of Ministries of Forestry, Land and Natural Resources; Food and Agriculture; and Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) to the hinterland for administrative efficiency.

"Ministry of Forestry, Lands and Natural Resources exist to ensure the sustainable management and judicious utilisation of the nation's lands, forestry and wildlife, while Ministry of Food and Agriculture is to create an environment for sustainable growth and development in the agricultural Sector.

"The LGRD exists to promote the establishment and development of a vibrant and well resourced decentralised system of local government, ensure good governance and balanced rural based development=85what are they doing in Accra when the bulk of their operations are in the hinterlands," Osagyefuo Ofori Panin II queried at a public forum in Accra.

The public forum under the theme: 93Our Environment, Our Economy, Our Democracy," was organised by Governance Africa Foundation, an independent non-governmental organisation to discuss the inter-connected impact the management or mismanagement of one or the other potentially makes on national development.

It was attended by security personnel, academia, non-governmental agencies, traditional rulers, politicians and cross section of the public.

Osagyefuo Ofori Panin II, who chaired the discussion, condemned the attitude of some ministers of State both in the present and past governments towards environmental issues=85 94nothing in particular why none of the two Ministers, Lands and Natural Resources; and Science and Environment, who were on the programme to present papers failed to attend.

"I sometimes wonder whether our policy makers care about our environment=85if this discussion was held outside this country, they would have run to attend but just at their doorsteps they refused to attend," he stated.

Speaking with obsession and calculated gesticulation, Osagyefuo Ofori Panin II said since independence, the country had not experienced any meaningful transformation from the central government 93yet we have the audacity to say chiefs don't matter in decision making of this country.

"The 1992 Constitution recognises chiefs as traditional custodians but unfortunately the same Constitution vested in the President public lands yet we are barred from defending our resources=85.you are the landlord, but have no authority to collect rent," he said.

He said: 93under the leadership of traditional rulers, who modern day saints consider as primitive, instituted measures, norms customs and traditions, which protected the environment, water bodies, and echo-system.

"But with all our modern education today, we are rather destroying what our ancestors protected and built for us, activities of illegal miners are destroying our country but the security agencies sit without concern".

Osagyefuo Ofori Panin II cautioned: 93I have done all within my powers to stop illegal mining and chainsaw operating to no avail=85they are stubborn because they are not afraid of Okyehene, am going to mobilise my people to defend our land".

He called for proactive environmental protection brigade to defend the lands and natural resources.

Mr Kwaku Baa-Owusu, Executive Director of Governance Africa Foundation, called for vigorous campaign for the protection of the environment, stressing 93we are killing the environment slowly through our uncoordinated activities and the earlier we rise up to defend it, our future is bleak".