The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is committed to instituting regulations that will enable chiefs participate in the protection of forests in the country.
Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, explains that the present order where the Forestry Commission has absolute responsibility has proven ineffective.
According to him, there is the need for stringent measures to protect the remaining 18 out of 37 forest reserves.
“We will discuss with traditional authorities to find a way of protecting the forest. We have to make a legislation that will allow the Forestry Commission and traditional leaders work together. That will enable us to protect the forest reserves”, he said.
Mr. Mahama indicated, “sometimes, officers of the Forestry Commission team up with others to destroy the forest”.
The former President said this when he visited the Wiawso Chief, Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama II as part of the “Building Ghana Tour” of the Western North Region.
Chief of Wiawso, Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama had earlier bemoaned the fast depletion of forests.
“Formerly, the forest reserves were in the hands of traditional leaders. After it was handed over to the Forestry Commission, the reserves started to deplete. Now we have forest officers taking care of the forests but they do not do anything. Now we don’t have any forest reserve, the few ones available are being destroyed”, he said.
The Western North Region hosts some of the country’s rich forest reserves.
But illegal logging and irresponsible mining are causing a fast depletion of the forests.
The Chief expressed worry at the reduced authority of traditional ruler due to the constitution.
“Politicians have taken away our power. We summon people here and they threaten us with court. At the National House of Chiefs meetings, we mentioned it. If you want to come back to power, you should find a way of giving our powers back, all chiefs will follow you,” he said.
John Mahama responded to the request at a Town Hall meeting later in the day where the issue came up again.
“We will continue with the review of the constitution which started under Former President Mills. We will bring stakeholders together to deliberate on this. If it is agreed that we give back the power of traditional authority then it will be reviewed”, he added.
Meanwhile, the tour of the Western North Region continues to gain momentum among the public.
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