Asantehene calls for more education on forest plantation

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the Forestry Commission to step up public education on tree plantation.

He said it was important to aid the people, especially the youth, to see forest plantation as potential employment opportunity and rewarding business activity.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when a delegation of the Commission paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

Nana Wiafe Akenten, the Paramount Chief of Offinso and a member of the Forestry Commission Board, was the leader of the delegation.

They were there to introduce the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Samuel Afari Dartey, to the Asantehene.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said continued degradation of the forest due to indiscriminate tree cutting and illegal mining activities in forest reserves were contributing to the climatic changes the country is experiencing.

He said game and wildlife are important tourist attractions that bring in a lot of foreign exchange to some countries and urged the Commission to give adequate attention to the wildlife sector.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu told Mr Dartey to see his appointment as a privilege and work in collaboration with all the staff to achieve the goals of the Commission.

Mr Dartey said their new direction was to step up forest plantation activities to replenish the dwindling forest resources, create jobs and increase foreign exchange from timber exports.

They are also focusing on wildlife conservation to boost tourism.

Mr Dartey appealed to the Asantehene to support the Commission to attract private partners to develop and maintain the Kumasi Zoological Gardens.

Source: GNA