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Benito Owusu-Bio with some of the beneficiaries
Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, on Saturday August 7, 2021, inspected some projects undertaken by the Forest Plantation Management Fund Board.
Along with officials from the Ministry and the Forest Plantation Management Fund Board, Benito Owusu-Bio visited Mankraso Forest in Ahafo Ano South District of Ashanti Region to keep abreast of progress in the forest plantation exercise.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Benito Owosu-Bio said he was pleasantly surprised by the progress made by foresters who have been recruited and hired under the government’s Youth in Afforestation initiative.
He said that due to the success of the initial projects, the government will expand it to other regions of the country to create employment opportunities and also protect the environment from the effects of climate change.
He said the tree planting is not only meant to save the country’s forest cover, but also to create a viable economic opportunity for young people and the government.
“They started just two years ago, but look what they’ve done. When you turn around and see what they’ve done, it’s really commendable. They did, but that’s because they are constantly on the ground looking after and maintaining the tree, because they are also cultivating. Every time they come to the farm, they look around and find ways to make sure the trees are growing.
“We will encourage them to maintain it and during the next planting season we will increase it and extend it to other districts as well. It is important to involve young people. Of course, we have to find them jobs, but some of them have to be on the farm planting trees and cash crops for the country. They need the support of the government and its agencies and we will make sure they do.
Benito Owusu-Bio commended the farmers for their role in helping the country reduce the effects of climate change and assured them of the government’s unwavering support.
“You are helping yourself in this project and also helping the country, so you play a dual role. The government will benefit from it and you are also helping us to fight against climate change, so if you want to develop, we will help you, ”he assured the workers.
The Youth in Afforestation program was launched in 2018 to help manage the country’s forests, combat desertification, end land degradation in various parts of the country.
Regarding Mankraso Forest, the Forest Plantation Management Fund Board hired 125 young people in 2019 and allocated 5 hectares of land to them to plant local species of wood.
With the pilot project having been enormously successful, the government is now ready to implement the module across the country.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the media on the sidelines praised the government for the initiative which they said gave them jobs.
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