Minister tells forestry guards not to take bribe

Mr. Mike Hammah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, on Wednesday cautioned forestry guards to desist from taken bribe, and rather protect the forest and other national heritage.

He said acquiring wealth and properties must be done through the right channel and not through dubious means, and alleged that some forestry guards took money from illegal lumbering operators.

Mr. Mike Hammah noted that the connivance of the unscrupulous forestry guards with illegal lumbering operators was depriving the country of huge sums of money, and also degrading the forest reserves.

The Minister, who was responding to a question at an open forum at a four-day policy fair underway at Essipon, in Sekondi in the Western Region, said the interest of the nation must be paramount to any parochial interest.

Mr. Hammah said the Forestry Commission was building the capacity of its staff as well as re-orienting forestry guards to ensure that the forest reserves were protected.

On the oil and gas sector, Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister for Energy, said Government was investing close to GH¢150millon in security and safety equipment for the industry.Source: GNA