The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Lands and Forestry Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini wants President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to direct Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to release funds for the payment of allowances to beneficiaries of the Youth in Afforestation programme.
Beneficiaries of the Youth in Afforestation programme have made demands for the release of their allowances and, in some cases, threatened to protest against the government if issues relating to their months of unpaid allowances are not resolved.
Alhassan Suhuyini, also the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, on the floor of Parliament to mark International Forest Day said beneficiaries must be compensated.
“I also appeal to the President to through the Minister of Finance assist the Forestry Commission to pay the men and women who have committed themselves to support the nation through the afforestation programme. They have committed themselves and for many months, they have gone unpaid. I hope that the President will direct that arrears are paid.”
He also urged the government to back the efforts of Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey to protect the Sakumo Ramsar site.
“I hope that the government will support the Greater Accra Regional Minister in his determined efforts to protect our Ramsar sites. When the Minister declared war against the encroachment of the sites, it received popular support from the people of Ghana. Unfortunately, the fire that the Minister began with seems to be quenching and the reports we are getting don’t put government in very good light, I pray that the Minister of Lands and the President to support the Regional Minister to ensure that our ramsar sites are indeed protected.”