Abu Jinapor greeting one of the chiefs
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has lauded the Bono Regional House of Chiefs for their initiative to plant trees on all water bodies in the region as part of environmental protection.
The minister said “this initiative is highly commendable” and pledged to support the chiefs to continue to protect water bodies in the area for posterity.
Addressing the House of Chiefs as part of his tour of the region on Monday, the minister said they are determined to get the chiefs to appreciate much better the laws on land administration to enhance the continuous partnership between the traditional authorities and the government.
“We will support you with seedlings, money, any material support that you would need, count on us to make it available for this laudable project,” the minister said.
Mr. Jinapor said the initiative of the Bono chiefs could be replicated in all the regions to protect and preserve the country’s water bodies.
He appealed to the chiefs to work closely with the Bono Regional Minister to resolve many of the issues in the region, including the issuing of mining licence to investors and mining companies.
“We have reached a point where government and traditional authorities have to work together to protect the country’s lands and forestry sub-sectors for the benefit of current and future generations,” he stressed.
He tasked companies to adhere strictly to their Corporate Social Responsibility for the benefit of the community and the country as a whole, and urged the chiefs to help arrest those who engage in indiscriminate logging and other related activities.
He also made it clear that as a minister he has never issued licence whatsoever for anybody to go into logging, and the chiefs must not allow it.
The Vice President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs who doubles as the Chief of Drobo, Okogyeredom Sakyiako II, underscored the importance of protecting the natural resources of the country, particularly the water bodies.
He also disclosed that the House as part of the tree planting initiative has already engaged a consultant to spearhead the environmental protection activities.
The Vice President, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, said Nananom as part of their commitment to check environmental degradation, deforestation and global warming will continue to partner the government to protect the lands and natural resources of the country.