Traditional authorities have being called upon to use their influence on their subjects to act responsibly this harmattan season and beyound to reduce the horror site of bush fires.

The President, Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills in a speech read on his behalf by the interior Minister Dr. Benjamin Kumbour said traditional authorities have a significant role to play in bush fire prevention considering their position in the communities.

The President made the call at the launch of the 2011 national bush fire prevention  campaign at Adaklu- Anyigbe in the volta region on the theme: “ Prevent Bush Fire: the Role of Tradional Rulers.

He said bush fire is now the greatest single threat to long term productivity, genetic wealth and general health as well as survival of half of the forest in Ghana for which urgent measures have to be instituted to address it.

According to him the cost of damage from fire outbreak in 2010 amounted to 362,027,775.75.

Accordingly,the president urged all stakeholders including Ghana National Fire Service, National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Forestry Commission, Coco board among others to continue to re-launch and sustain programmes for bush fire prevention.

The address also charged the legislature to make PNDC law 229 be more punitive responsive to current trends of affairs in order to deter people especially charcoal makers,  Grasscutter hunters, Fulani herdsmen and others noted to be responsible for these fires.

He expressed government’s commitment to resource the Fire Service to be able to respond to fire situations, adding that the recent distribution of 98 out of 227 fire tenders to the service is a step in that direction and that the rest will be delivered in due course.

The District Chief Executive for Adaklu- Anyigbe Hon. Michael Kobla Adzaho promised to deal decisively with people who will be caught engaging in bush fires.

Dominic Shirimori /Ghanadistricts.com