Parliamentary Select Committee Assesses Extent Of Illegal Activities Affecting Atiwa Forest

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry has paid a familiarization visit to the Atiwa forest to assess extent of illegal activities affecting the forest and find the appropriate strategies to address them. 

Some government officials that accompanied them were the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, the Atiwa DCE-Emmanuel Atta Twum and the East Akim MCE-Simon Asirifi. 

The Eastern Regional Manager of the forestry, Atta Owusu, said the commission is structured to regulate the use of forest and wildlife resources. 

He said deforestation is a major threat to the forest. 

He noted that if remarkable measures are not put in place to stop that activity, all the forest reserve will turn to desert. 

The Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Amadu Seidu, said managing the forest is a shared responsibility. 

He noted that the Birim River which serves as a source of drinking water is polluted. 

GBC