Sunyani (B/A) July 18, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday expressed worry about the rate at which parts of the region was gradually turning into a savannah zone. He noted that the region's vegetative cover is being devastated through indiscriminate felling of trees and setting of bushfires.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo raised the concern after members of the Regional Co-ordinating Council and Regional House of Chiefs organised a tree planting and clean-up exercise in the municipality. The various security services, non-governmental organisations, religious and youth groups and school children, were part of the exercise, which was organised as part of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the region.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said since the region was noted as the food basket of the country, national food security would be in jeopardy if immediate and appropriate steps were not taken to address the situation. "Brong Ahafo is blessed with abundant natural resources. If properly tapped can facilitate accelerated national development," he said.

The minister appealed to traditional authorities and assembly members to encourage the people, particularly the unemployed youth, to plant trees as an economic venture, to help restore the vegetative cover and improve their livelihood. Those who took part in the exercise, which lasted about five hours desilted choked gutters and cleaned the principal streets of Sunyani.