Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie
The Forestry Commission has decided to use trained wild dogs to hunt for unscrupulous chainsaw operators who are rapidly depleting the vegetation cover in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as ‘Sir John,’ who made the disclosure, condemned attempts by some people to deplete the forest.
According to him, the Forestry Commission, under his able leadership, would take drastic and pragmatic measures to help preserve the forest reserves in the country.
Some people have been cutting down trees in the forest with impunity, which is adversely affecting the forest and the environment in general, he observed.
Sir John stated that the Forestry Commission would not allow some people to rampantly cut trees from the forest to enrich themselves at the expense of the state.
The Forestry Commission CEO was of the view that everything would be done to help protect the forest from unscrupulous people in the general interest of the state.
Sir John disclosed this when the management and board members of the Forestry Commission, led by the Board Chairman, Brig General Joseph Odei, visited the Apamprama Forest at Koboro in the Amansie Central District in Ashanti Region.
There were reports that the illegal activities of some faceless miners have left gaping pits in the Apamprama Forest.
The Forestry Commission, in an attempt to save lives and protect the forest for the unborn generation, therefore engaged Unique Star Point Company to cover the gaping mining pits in the forest.
Sir John stated that he was impressed with the professional manner in which Unique Star Point Company was covering the pits, urging them to sustain their good works and complete the work on time.
Brig General Joseph Odei, the Board Chairman of Forestry Commission, stressed the need to reclaim the land.
He also announced that plans were underway for the Forestry Commission to recruit forest rangers to constantly guard the forest from illegal miners and chainsaw operators.
Forestry Commission Board members such as Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu and George Brobbey were all in the Apamprama Forest to assess the situation.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Koboro, Amansie Central
Â
Â