Nkoranza (B/A), Jan. 18, GNA - Farmers have been advised to engage the services of local fire volunteers to help them to prepare their new farm lands to avoid setting bushfires to destroy the environment and properties.

Mr John Kwasi Kwao, Nkoranza District Anti-bushfire Task Force Co-ordinator, gave the advice at a meeting of zonal co-ordinators of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to map out strategies to combat bushfires in the area.

He expressed regret about how negative practices and attitudes of some people resulted in the destruction of forestlands through bushfires every year and charged the co-ordinators to regularly visit the communities to check such practices. The District Co-ordinator urged traditional authorities, assembly members, unit committees and Area/Town councils to support and encourage fire volunteers to offer selfless services. Mr Kwao urged religious leaders to use the pulpit to educate their congregations on the causes and effects of bushfires and teachers to steer school children away from setting fires. He said the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council had deployed army personnel to strengthen the task force to patrol the communities and arrest perpetrators.

The District Co-ordinator cautioned against the use of poisonous chemicals to fish in water bodies, saying perpetrators would be arrested and prosecuted. Mr Benson Boadum Acheampong, District NADMO Co-ordinator, urged the zonal co-ordinators to submit situational reports on their activities to the District office every fortnight. He advised farmers and palm wine tappers to be careful in their operations during the Harmattan season to avoid causing bushfires.