Begoro, Dec. 7, GNA - A total amount of one billion and ninety million cedis (1,090,000,000.00 cedis) of property got damaged in 182 recorded bushfires within the past four years in Eastern Region.

The New Juabeng Municipal Fire Officer, Mr Paul Opoku disclosed this at Begoro to mark the 19th Regional and District Farmers Day in the Eastern Region.

Mr Opoku said 53 bushfires were recorded in 2000 and property worth 44 million cedis damaged, while 46 bushfires were recorded in 2001 with property worth 40 million cedis damaged.

He said 45 bushfires were recorded in 2002 and property worth 856 million cedis got damaged while in 2003, 38 bushfires were recorded with 150 million cedis property damaged.

Mr Opoku expressed concern at the high rate of outbreak of bushfires in the region, especially in the bushfire prone districts of Afram Plains, Fanteakwa and Manya Krobo.

He said PNDC Law 229 on bushfire prevention and bushfire control mandate chiefs to enact bye-laws to check the outbreak of bushfires in their communities but that mandate had not been utilized by the chiefs as expected.

He called on all and sundry to help curb the outbreak of bushfires during this dry season.