Illegal activities destroying Mole Game Reserve — Yapei MP

Bede Ziedeng – Northern Regional MinisterThe  Mmember of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu in the Central Gonja District in the Northern Region, Alhaji Amadu Seidu, has said one of Ghana’s prime game reserves, the Mole Park, is under serious threat from the activities of certain illegal chain saw operators around the area.

Expressing concern about the activities of timber merchants and charcoal burners at the forest reserve, near the Mole National Park, he said even though previous governments had over the years invested heavily in forest reserves to address problems of illegal chainsaw operations, environmental degradation and deforestation, the social vices persisted.

Alhaji Amadu Seidu who was a former Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport expressed this concern at a mini-durbar organised by the Gonjaland Youth Association in Kumasi to usher in its new national executive.

The association  which was formed 37 years ago, co-ordinates the development of Gonjaland. A nine-member national executive of the association was elected at its 37th Congress at Bole last month to run the association for a period of three years.

They are Alhassan Dramani, President; Kofi Iddi, First Vice President; Mrs Abiba Abdulai, Second Vice President; Dramani Dari, Secretary,  and Amain Mohammed, Treasurer.

The rest are Zakariah Akibu, Organiser; Dramani Issahaku Mastan, Assistant Organiser; Mahama Haruna, Public Relations Officer, and Mrs Braimah Ramatu, Women’s Commissioner.

He commended  the national executive board of the association for waging a campaign against the situation.

Alhaji Amadu Seidu explained that  the government continued to introduce policies and programmes to better the living standard of Ghanaians, and urged the association to be proactive in supporting  the government to achieve its goals.

The National President of the Gonjaland Youth Association, Alhassan Dramani, said he would continue with the unfinished projects of the association.

He gave the assurance that he would be in constant touch with the chiefs and security agencies to reduce, if not eradicate conflicts and crime in order to have accelerated development.

He reminded the youth of Gonja that the hallmark of success was humility, respect, obedience and discipline,  and that they should give maximum respect to all ethnic groups in the north and also consider them as partners in development.

Story: Joseph Kyei-Boateng