Amoma (B/A), Dec. 27, GNA - Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, at the weekend warned that areas in the region that experienced bushfires would not enjoy development projects.

He said it was the government's avowed desire to help protect the country's natural resources from destruction.

This was contained in a speech read on behalf of Nana Seinti at the launch of the region's 2003/2004 anti-bushfire campaign at which a 50-member fire volunteer squad was inaugurated at Amoma in Kintampo District.

He said: "It is not the duty of the fire volunteers alone to protect us from bushfires. Let us all be our brother's keeper and help avoid disasters that we can conveniently avoid."

The regional minister gave the assurance that the regional co-ordinating council would, through NADMO, provide the necessary facilities to enable the fire volunteers to operate effectively. Nana Seinti urged the volunteers to avoid partisan politics in their work and called for a revision and strengthening of the district assembly byelaws on bushfires to ensure stiffer punishment for people who set bushfires.

The fire volunteers, who included women, were later presented with certificates, pairs of Wellington boots and cutlasses.