Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, has urged chiefs in the region to play active roles in protecting the natural resources in their respective areas from destruction.
He said as custodians of the lands, it was incumbent on the traditional authorities, to collaborate with the timber task forces to stop illegal activities caused to the environment.
By so doing, he noted that the nation could bequeath rich environmental legacy to future generation.
The minister pointed out that forestry and wildlife were important resources beneficial to the environment, and accounted for 15 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, yet they were being depleted with impunity.
He was addressing the general meeting of the Western Region House of Chiefs in Sekondi.
Mr. Aidoo was not happy that illegal mining and the indiscriminate felling of trees continued to pose challenges in the region.
He, however, gave the assurance that a task force was working hard to stop the menace. He indicated that most forest reserves in the region were under siege by chainsaw operators, illegal timber operators and farmers, who were devastating the environment with impunity.
The regional minister, therefore, warned the chiefs to use laid down structures to lease lands.
“Our chiefs should desist from leasing land in the forest resources to any person or group of persons to undertake economic ventures without agreement with the ministry of land, and natural resources.”
The minister mentioned the Afra Hills, Tano Suraw, Anhwiaso South , Tano Anwin, Suhuma, Sui, Bia, Disu, Tano Suhuren, Bubri and Bonsa, as rivers and forest reserves that had been devastated.
