The Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor has directed the Forestry Commission (FC) to move in and flash out individuals and entities engaged in mining in Ghana’s forest reserves without permits.
While instructing that fresh permits must not be issued, Mr Jinapor emphasized the need to protect the country’s forest reserves.
“Forest reserves are what they are and should be protected accordingly,” the Minister said as he launched the Green Ghana Day 2021.
He said government was counting on the Forestry Commission to collaborate with officials of the security services to enforce the directive without fear or favour.
The Green Ghana Project is meant to plant five million trees across the country. The event, which was also to commemorate the International Day of Forests 2021 was held on the theme, ‘Forest Landscape Restoration: Planting Five Million Tree in a Day.
Mr Jinapor bemoaned there were still some illegalities in the forestry sector and charged the Commission to adopt a comprehensive strategy to deal with those activities such as the harvesting of rosewood and illegal logging.
By Mohammed Suleman
