Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has challenged officials of Forestry Commission to deliver on their mandate by protecting the forests.
According to him, the popular statement “when the last tree dies, the last man dies lays credence to the fact that Protection of forests should be the priority of the Commission.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah addressing staff and management of the Forestry Commission
The Minister made the statement when he visited the Forestry Commission on Wednesday as part of his tour to agencies under his ministry.
“Leaving our forest resources, timber resources as intact as green depends on all of you.
When the last tree dies, the Last Man Dies statement is a Challenge to Forestry Commission to Protect Our Forest”, the Minister emphasized.
He added that “your job is very critical such that without you there is no Ghana”.
He explained that the Commission is confronted with a lot of challenges, underscoring the need for the Commission to protect our forest from all threats including illegal mining and illegal logging.
The MP for Ellembelle also reminded the officials of President Mahama’s resetting Ghana agenda stressing that the Forestry Commission must be reset in order to yield the desired results.
“We have brought resetting Ghana agenda to the Forestry Commission”, he stated.
The Minister therefore called on the staff to exhibit high sense of dedication and patriotism to the work they are doing stressing that the survival of humanity is hinged on forest.
Hon. Armah Buah later repelled the notion of any victimization or discrimination in the Commission by government and assured the staff of support in their conditions of service and salary.
He added that his commitment to support them in the area of salary and conditions of service is in alignment with the resetting agenda for forestry commission.
He also expressed his commitment to support the Forestry guards describing their job as sophisticated.
He said attacks on some Forestry guards is a national security issue hence the Ministry’s resolve to support them through training and incentives.
“We need to look at the welfare of the forestry guards
This is high risk jobs and requires a program, and as Minister we are ready to support forestry guards in high risk areas”, the Minister assured.
On his part, the CEO of Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, earlier welcomed the Minister and assured the Minister of their commitment to protect the forests.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
