Mr. James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, has urged opinion leaders in the area to educate the people on the need to avoid setting bushfires as the harmattan season got closer.
He expressed regret that despite intensive education carried out in the district on the effects of bushfires on socio-economic development, some unscrupulous people continued to engage in the practice, resulting in the destruction of the environment and properties.
Mr. Appiah-Awuah was addressing members of the District Disaster Management Committee, at a meeting to discuss this year's plans for combating bushfires in the area.
He urged fire volunteers to intensify efforts at preventing the phenomenon and to assist farmers to burn cleared vegetation in preparation of the land for cropping, to avoid fire outbreaks.
Mr. Appiah-Awuah asked the Committee to check the use of poisonous chemicals for fishing to prevent pollution of water bodies.
Mr. Benson Boadum Acheampong, the District Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), said the district anti-bushfire taskforce would soon start sensitising the people about disaster management.
He reminded the people that the ban on group hunting was still in force and any one caught violating it would be arrested.
Mr. Johnson Baffo, official at the District Fire Station, and member of the taskforce, appealed to the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council to deploy military personnel to support the taskforce.
He advised farmers and palm wine tappers to be careful about the way they handle fire to avoid causing fire outbreaks.
Madam Mary Nyadia, official at the District Forestry Department, expressed worry about the rampant illegal chainsaw operations in the area and advised traditional rulers to help bring the situation under control.