The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor has disclosed that the government will soon begin an Aggressive Afforestation Programme to help revegetate and sustain the forest reserves of the country.
This programme which he said will be done in collaboration with the central government, will ensure the restoration of the forest cover of Ghana. He said this when he met with officials from the three main Agencies of the Ministry at the Western North Regional Coordinating Council, today 22nd September, 2021.
During the meeting, he craved the indulgence and support of all the agencies to help manage efficiently the lands and it’s resources of Ghana.
The Minister said “the matters of the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry has to do with the survival and progress of the country. When you talk about the forest, the lands and the minerals of our country, that is our country and therefore needs to be protected”.
He added “The forest resources of our country has been managed, exploited and utilised in a manner which has rendered it unsustainable”
Hon. Jinapor therefore reiterated that until such a time that the forest resources of our country bounces back and can be sustained, the ban he placed on the harvesting and exploitation of forest reserves remains.
An advisory committe he said has been set up to think through ways to help bring back the life of Ghana’s forest reserves and also to fashion out an intelligent way foward on how the forest can be exploited in a sustainable manner.
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor pointed out that if the forest reserve of the country is not exploited, there are industries which will suffer for it because they depend on the the forest for their raw materials to stay in business. However the Minister is of the view that if it must be done, then it must be done well.
