The 2017/2018 National Bush Fire Prevention Campaign was launched on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Mpreaso, in the Eastern Region with a call on the citizenry to change their attitude and support the fight for preservation of the environment.
This year’s campaign, which is the sixth since its inception and under the theme “Prevent bush Fires and Save the Environment” was aimed at sensitizing the public, particularly, farmers, herdsmen, palm-wine tappers and game hunters on the devastating effect of bush fires on the country and the need for all well-meaning Ghanaians to get involved in preventing them.
In a speech read on his behalf, Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery indicated that without a change in attitude, provisions of any Anti-Bushfire Law in this country and efforts by institutions such as the Ghana National Fire Service, as well as all other stakeholders in the fight for preservation of the environment will remain essentially unsuccessful.
“People will continue setting fires recklessly. It will take the concerted efforts, of all stakeholders, and the intensification of our educational campaign to create and sustain public awareness on the effects and consequences of bush fires on the economy of Ghana” he said.
Mr. Dery, to this end, has charged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to set up Bush Fire Prevention Sub-Committees within the MMDA’s and also ensure the enactment and enforcement of bush fire bye-laws to effectively manage the situation.
The Minister applauded the efforts of traditional rulers in finding solutions to the bush fire menace and implored the Assemblies to involve the Chiefs in bush fire prevention activities.
“Our Chiefs have been a source of unity and authority as well as a rallying point for our communities; their ability to mobilize people from all shades of opinion to seek for solution and physically assist in fighting the fires when the unexpected happens is remarkable and cannot go without commendation” he stressed.
The annual bush fire prevention campaign since its inception has impacted positively in reducing bush fires and also led the training and setting up on more fire volunteer brigades within our communities.
Nana Effah Pinamang III, Obomeng hene and chairman for the occasion lauded government for the campaign and entreated every community to endeavor to have a Fire Volunteer Brigade. He used the occasion to appeal to Insurance Companies to consider insuring farms and farmlands.
Some government appointees present at the launch were Hon. Eric Kwakye Dafour, Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong, Chairman for the Fire Service Council and Chairman for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defense and Interior and Hon. Emmanuel Ofori Attah Snr. DCE for Mpreaso.
