MINISTER INAUGURATES TASK FORCE (MIRROR, PAGE 35)

From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah,
Sunyani

A Task force to check chainsaw operations in the Brong Ahafo Region has been inaugurated in Sunyani.
Dubbed “Operation Halt Illegal Chainsaw Activities”, the exercise will involve the military, police and other security agencies, as well as forestry guards and representatives of the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC).
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, in the inaugural address, expressed concern over the depletion of the once green forest reserves in the region.
He attributed the situation to bush fires, unscientific farming practices and operations of chainsaw operators, which had led to dramatic changes in the rainfall pattern and drying up of rivers.
 ”We need to check the activities of the people who are destroying our forest cover for the sake of posterity and if we do not act now, some few years to come all our forests will go and the impact will be disastrous for our children,” the regional minister cautioned.
He appealed to members of the task force to work diligently so as to stem the wanton destruction of the forest resources, and resist any attempts by some unscrupulous people to influence them to stop the checks.
The regional minister appealed to the judiciary to expedite action on cases of those who would be arrested and brought before the law courts, pointing out that if they were punished heavily, it would serve as a deterrent to others.
The Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion of Infantry (3BN), Lt Col Michael Amoah Ayisi, cautioned that members of the task force would apply minimum force to apprehend those operators who might want to resist arrest.
Mr William Baah, the Regional Forestry Officer, said an operation mounted by his outfit a couple of days ago had led to the seizure of 3,000 pieces of lumber at Goaso in the Asunafo Municipality.