Nkwanta, Jan. 16, GNA - About half of the forests in the Nkwanta District has been ravaged by bush fire between December 2006 and January 2007.

This has compelled Mr Dery Chemogo, Nkwanta District Forest Manager, to call on the District Security Committee to intervene. Mr Chemogo told the Ghana News Agency that the sight of bushes aflame and engulfing food and cash crop farms as well as electric power distribution poles is pathetic.

He said a similar situation was raging in the Krachi-West and Krachi-East districts both of which are under his jurisdiction. Mr Chemogo blamed hunters, palm wine tapers and charcoal burners for the catastrophe which, he said, was a threat to the forest preservation and regeneration projects going on in the area. Kabiti market, the second largest in the district, has also been burnt.

Mr Emmanuel Sackitey Addo, Acting Ho Municipal Fire Officer, has said the Ho Municipal area has recorded a total of 10 fire incidents within the first 15 days of January.

The incidents, which included bushfires, domestic and vehicular fires destroyed properties worth millions of cedis, he said. He attributed the situation to carelessness and the dryness of the weather and called for efforts from all stakeholders to curb the fires. Mr Addo appealed to chiefs to be vigilant and cause the arrest of people who set bushfires.