Ghana has and continues to face problems of forest depletion, pollution of water bodies through illegal mining and youth unemployment. To help arrest these national menaces, the Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, has procured a hundred acre of land from the Oboyo Forest Reserve in the Central and Eastern Regional Political Districts to cultivate farm produces and to also own 40 percent of trees that would be planted in the forest in the next fifteen years.
Giving reasons for the visit to the Oboya Forest Reserve, where two twin brothers, Atta Kakra and Atta Panyin, who have vowed to stop the illegal gold mining in the Prah and to permanently go into farming and tree planting were shown their portion of the land, the Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, disclosed that the two brothers did not ran just as others had done when spotted mining in the Prah River. But rather pleaded with him for land to go into farming. The regional minister added that the twin brothers assured him of the preparedness of some their accomplices to stop with the illegal mining and to go into farming just as they want to.
The regional minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, noted that Ghana has experienced significant forest depletion, losing one point 64 million hectares of tree covers between 2001 and 2023. A 24 percent decrease since 2000 according to his findings affect the Ashanti and Western Regions where mining activities are on the rise.
He was hopeful that if 19 point seven percent of the current unemployed youth in the country accept tree planting and agriculture which is so dear to the heart of president John Dramani Mahama, it won’t just solve the problem of Unemployment but will also ensure food security in the country and of course protect the nation’s water bodies from illegal mining activities.
Mr. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere however, noted with concern that much as he is aware that many interested unemployed youth will like to embrace this opportunity, farming work is cost intensive, explaining, about one million Ghana cedis would be needed to execute the project successfully. Mr. Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere identified 14 thousand Ghana cedis as the quantum of amount needed to work on just one acre till the maturity of the trees to be planted in a matter of four years. Since he cannot single handedly bear the cost of this project, he pleaded with president John Dramani Mahama, religious bodies and individuals who are worried about activities of illegal miners and the unemployed youth in the country to support those who are interested in such a venture . He was optimistic that when this is done, food security in the country, water menaces and social vices among the youth would be addressed within the next one to two decades .
The two twin brothers, Atta Panyin and Atta Kakra, disclosed to the media that their conscience had always judged them wrongly whenever they stepped in rivers to mine gold. But had no other options since a beggar had no choices. Hence held the bull by the horns when the first met the Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere at the site. They used the occasion to plead with their friends mining in the nation’s water bodies not to continue seeking for their selfish gains but to rather join them in the planting of trees and crops for a better Ghana. They used the media to plead with the government, NGOs and all well meaning Ghanaians for supports so as to ensure a better Ghana for all. They also urged the youth not free the minds from the thoughts that only white color jobs and quick monies can guarantee them butter and bread in life.
The Range Supervisor in charge of the Oboyo Forest Reserve, Emmanuel Peprah, who introduced the minister and the twin brothers to the site disclosed that one hundred of acres of the land has been allocated to the Central Regional Minister for onward distribution to those that are prepared to work and follow specifications of the Forestry Reserve. He explained that the beneficiaries will have to comply with the ” modified Tonja system” mandates them to clear the land plant food crops and inter-crop with the new breed of timber crops for five year. He explained further that the farmer then takes care of the forest till 15 years that the trees will be ready for harvesting. Mr. Peprah revealed that the government gets 60 percent of the timbers whilst the farmer enjoys 40 percent of the timber together with his
