The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, has stated that the government’s primary goal for the forestry sector is to protect the country’s forest and wildlife resources.
He added that the government’s overarching strategy was to safeguard forest and wildlife resources while also replacing the forest cover that has been lost over time.
The Deputy Minister said this when a delegation from the Climate Partnership Opportunity, a US-based climate advocacy organization, called on him on Thursday in Accra.
He gave an overview of the Ministry’s work and objectives. On the forestry sector, the Deputy Lands Minister stated that the government, concerned about the devastation caused by climate change, has implemented several policies and interventions to protect the country’s forest cover and wildlife.
He asserted that the annual Green Ghana project, a government initiative, was to restore the forest cover and improve the environment.
Regarding the mining sector, Mr Owusu-Bio disclosed that the government has set out to make Ghana a mining hub in Africa by purging the sector of all illegal mining activities and pursuing a special drive to process minerals in the country.
On his part, Prof. Patrick Agbesinyale, Chief Director of the Ministry, explained that the government cannot ban small-scale mining due to the contributions the sector makes to the country’s economy but was undertaking far-reaching reformation programmes to improve the sector and prevent environmental destruction.
He outlined some of the measures being taken to protect the forest cover, as well as government interventions in the fight against illegal, including the Community Mining Scheme and the purchase of Gold Katcha equipment.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
