FIRE OUTBREAK INCIDENT IN BONYA FOREST.

In the early hours of today Wednesday 18th January 2023, Hon. Addo-Donkor Everson met with Nananom and other stakeholders to discuss and address issues in relation to the recent fire outbreak in the Bonya forest which destroyed the forest vegetation. The meeting was called to ascertain the main cause of the fire outbreak and find lasting solutions to prevent any future occurrence of fire outbreaks in the forest reserve. The invited persons for the meeting were Nana Frimpong Boakye Yiadom, Nana Serwaa Kukurowa, Hon Thomas Archie Bonya Assembly member, Hon Sumaila Adam Asubingya Assembly member, Staff of the Assembly, Rep from NADMO and the District Fire commander.

In a statement, Hon Addo-Donkor Everson stated that it was a devastating and worrying situation that the District have found itself in since the trees were fast-growing and there was progress in the trees that have been planted to bring the forest back to their natural state.

The last year 2022 there was a Tree planting exercise themed Green Ghana Day program. The program led to the planting of Trees nationwide and Techiman North District was a beneficiary of such Tree planting program. The selection of the venue for the Tree Planting exercise in Bonya was determined by the Ecological benefit of the Bonya- Mprisi sacred groove, which could be served as a tourism attraction.

The forest has been reserved for over 300 years, however, due to human activities the forest had lost some plant species. To reclaim its natural state back, the Tree planting exercise was done in Bonya- Mpirisi where 1.2 mil trees were expected to be planted and natured.

During the meeting, suggestions were made on the lasting solution to remedy the fire outbreak in the Bonya forest reserve. Nananom suggested that a committee be formed and tasked to investigate the fire outbreak.

Mad. Faustina Amadu, District Planning Officer, suggested that the forest has a lot of economic benefits to the District and must be protected. The District during its last performance contract had its pass mark due to the Forest ecological benefit. In her statement, she recommended that the people should be educated on the economic benefit that forests could bring aside the natural rain for farming.

In the end, a seven-member ad-hoc committee with 2 co-opted members from the Assembly was formed and chaired by Nana Frimpong Boakye Yiadom to investigate the fire incident and submit a report to the committee. The committee was tasked to find out the root cause of the fire outbreak.

On that note, the Hon District Chief Executive thanked all members for honoring the invitation and making time to attend the meeting. He stated that he will be looking forward to successful delivery from the ad-hoc committee on the task assigned.