General News of Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Source: ghananewsagency.org
2018-06-27
Mr David Afoko, DCE for the Builsa North has called on people to protect economic trees
Mr David Amoabil Afoko, District Chief Executive for the Builsa North, has advised people engaged in tree felling in communities in the District to put a stop to it and safeguard the District against the increasing rate of environmental degradation.
He called on the people to protect economic trees, which he said were a major source of livelihoods for women.
Whilst reminding his Constituents that “When the last tree dies, the last man dies”, he advised them to plant more trees in view of growing impact of climate change and urged them to emulate efforts of other neighbouring communities.
He said a recent arrest of wood loggers who fell a large number of rosewood trees at Kadema in the District demonstrated the seriousness the Assembly accorded such acts and warned perpetrators of such illegal acts to refrain from it.
The DCE made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) when he responded to questions on some issues of environmental degradation in the District.
He expressed unhappiness about people felling economic trees mainly shear nut trees to the detriment of the women who depended on them for livelihoods.
To address the situation, the DCE said the District Assembly would not relent in its sensitization efforts to get the constituents to change their attitude towards the environment.
He said the Assembly collaborated with the Ghana Fire Service and other stakeholders to carry out sensitization activities to educate the people on environmental degradation.
He further warned culprits involved in carting trees from neighbouring districts and passing the logs through Builsa North, that such persons would be prosecuted when caught for indulging in such acts.
Mr Afoko indicated that the Assembly had supported various trade groups with financial assistance to engage in afforestation activities to enhance income-generating activities in the District, and gave the assurance to continue to support organized groups that showed potentials of making a living for themselves.