The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor has commended highly the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, for the initiative to plant trees along all water bodies in the region to help preserve the water bodies for posterity.
Addressing a gathering of Chiefs and elders in the region as part of his one-day tour to the region, the Minster for Lands expressed his joy about the idea of the Chiefs deciding to plant trees along the rivers and the streams within their enclaves and promised to back the chiefs with all the resources they may require to ensure the initiative succeeds.
He said, “This initiative is highly commendable and we will support you with seedlings, money, and all material support that you would need so therefore you can count on us to make it available for this project.”
Hon. Jinapor further stated that the initiative could be taken up on a large scale with all the other 15 Regional House of Chiefs buying into the idea and practicing same to preserve the water bodies and the natural resources in the country.
He also ceased the opportunity to educate the Chiefs about the laws regarding land administration, and promised he would ensure that every chief receives a copy of the Land Act to be followed by a sensitization program which is already ongoing.
Again, he appealed to the chiefs to work closely with the Bono Regional Minister to resolve many of the issues in the Region, including the issuing of mining license to investors and mining companies in the Region.
He said, “we have gotten to a point where government and traditional authorities have to work together to protect the country’s lands and forestry sub sectors for the benefit of current and future generations.”
The Minister stated emphatically that the chiefs must see to the arrest of individuals who engaged in logging and other related illegal activities stressing that as a Minister, he has never issued out a license whatsoever for such activities to take place and so they must not allow it.
The Vice President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs who doubles as the Chief of Drobo, Okogyeredom Sakyiako II, underscored the importance of protecting the natural resources of the country, particularly the water resources.
He said that the House of chiefs have decided as a matter of urgency to plant trees along all water bodies within the region to protect them and keep them for posterity
He also disclosed that the house as part of this initiative has already engaged a consultant and will soon come up with a proposal aimed at planting trees along water bodies and degraded lands in the Bono region.
He added that this proposal will be presented to the honourable Minister when ready to obtain the necessary support for the overall success of the project.
The Vice President who spoke on behalf of the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II said Nananom as part of their commitment to enriching their Land and Natural Resources by dealing with land and environmental degradation, deforestation and global warming will ensure that their determination to help government protect the lands and natural Resources is realized.
He therefore urged the House to rally support behind the Hon. Minister to succeed in this national exercise.
He said “if he succeeds, it is for the Bono Region and for Ghana as a whole so let us support him.”
