Local farmers have started intensive farming activities within the catchment area of the Barekese dam at Ayensua-Kokoo and Ayensua-Fufuo in the Offinso district and around the Offin river between Old Offinso and Ahenkro area in the Afigya-Sekyere district of Ashanti.
Vast stretches of virgin forest reserves could be seen cleared and burnt ready for the cultivation of food crops, especially maize and vegetables in the catchment area while chainsaw operators were logging economic trees with impunity.
This came to light when Madam Cecelia Abena Dapaah, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing on Friday paid a working visit to the area to ascertain the extent of damage farmers were causing to the Dam which provides water for people in the region.
She was accompanied by the officials of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) led by Mr Samuel Mensah, acting Ashanti Regional Chief Manager.
Madam Dapaah stressed the need for management of GWCL to continue to sensitise the farmers and other stakeholders on the need to stop depleting the forest.
She said the issue of compensation which has been the bone of contention was being handled at high levels and they should therefore exercise restraint and help to protect and preserve the dam and other river bodies in the area.
Madam Dapaah, who is the Member of Parliament for Bantama, said there was the need for people in the area to sacrifice for the good of the nation, adding that the destruction of the dam and the river bodies would go to affect all Ghanaians now and those yet unborn.
Some of the farmers who happened to meet the Minister on the farms said their continued farming on the same piece of land had rendered those lands infertile and they had no option than to shift cultivation to feed themselves and their families.
They said they would however cease farming in the area when they are paid their compensation
Source: GNA
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Bawumia is a unifier hence his all-round support – Sheikh Nuamah
2 mins -
Pandemic preparedness: ALERRT calls for integrating research into policy
25 mins -
Leverage digital platforms in music promotion – AT CEO urges artists
37 mins -
2024/25 GPL: Medeama scrape past Holy Stars to maintain unbeaten start
40 mins -
GPL 24/25: Gold Stars hold Lions in Kpando
43 mins -
GJA, NMC urge government to adequately resource State-owned Media
44 mins -
Be sensitive in your work – Chief Justice to the judiciary
55 mins -
How Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) can power Ghana’s national Web3 platform vision
1 hour -
Join me change judicial service’s image – Chief Justice appeals to JUSAG
1 hour -
Tottenham outclass 10-man Manchester United
1 hour -
2024/25 GPL: Berekum Chelsea’s Fuseini Zackaria scores to deny Asante Kotoko victory
2 hours -
2024/25 Ghana League: Bechem United edge Dreams FC for first win
2 hours -
Volta Regional Minister lauds Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme
3 hours -
GJA calls for release of anti-Galamsey protesters
3 hours -
High Court Justice calls for swift resolution of election disputes
3 hours