Hohoe (V/R), March 25, GNA- Mr Kwami Avegah-Kamabla, Presiding Member of the Hohoe District Assembly at the weekend, said the country's laws must be enforced rigorously in order to engender discipline and positive results in the country's efforts at economic development. He acknowledged that if statutory laws would be backed by strict enforcement, the country would be one of the most disciplined and peaceful in the world.

Mr Avegah-Kamabla made this observation at the end of a four-day orientation workshop on Community-Based Enterprise Development and Management for 60 Community Forest Management Committees, who constituted the northern segment of the Forestry Services Division of the Volta region at Hohoe.

The workshop organized by the Forest Resource Use and Management Project (FORUM), under the auspices of the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) was to equip participants with business, capitalization and managerial skills towards self-sufficiency. He noted for instance that stringent laws on the environment, sanitation and forest resources were being flouted with impunity by the citizenry.

Mr Avegah-Kamabla called on government, District Assemblies, the security apparatus and other stakeholders to play their roles towards the enforcement of laws on the statutory books, induce discipline and make the country a safe haven for all.

Mr Winfred Bimah, Manager of the FORUM project said the workshop was to equip key stakeholders of the Project with skills to make them financially self-reliant when the German government eventually withdraws its assistance in 2008.

He said about 300 stakeholders have undergone various training including conflict resolution, legal framework of business, service culture techniques in project intervention areas in the region. Mr Bimah urged participants to shun the wait-and-see attitude and embrace the new concept aimed at providing alternative livelihood to divert their over-dependence on forest resources.

Mr Edward Kweku Fiador, a business consultant with MDPI and a facilitator said underestimating the difficulty of starting a business was one of the greatest obstacles entrepreneurs faced. He however said success could be achieved if entrepreneurs would be patient, willing to work hard, take risks and face the challenges that confront them.

"Success in business was never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck. Rather it depends primarily on the owners foresight and organization".

Mr Conrad Kwesi Adade, Course Prefect said the workshop had enriched them about business prospecting, operation and management towards self-sustenance.