Nandom (UW), Aug 13, GNA - Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Paramount chief of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area on Friday presented items valued at 150 million cedis to five communities in the Lawra District as part of his two-day visit to the Upper West.

The communities, which have over the years been engaged in forestation and other environmental programmes, include Koro, Piina, Samoah, Dabating and Sanuon.

They each received water sprinklers, buckets, shovels, fencing wires and mortar containers.

Addressing the gathering, Osagyefo Ofori Panin called on the government to enact environmental laws to empower the people to prosecute those who pollute water bodies and violate environmental rules.

He said the refusal of people to adhere to the laws accounted for the numerous environmental problems in the country.

"Most of the environmental problems emanated from our human activities over the years, which we need to seek redress for the better".

He expressed regrets that in spite of scientific development in the world Ghanaians were still ignorant about the need to protect the environment.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin urged the people in the fight against environmental degradation to use all means to reclaim depleted forests. Mr George Hikah Benson, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister urged the people of the Nandom Traditional Area to be inspired by the Okyenhene's visit, which would take him through the breath and length of the country educating people on environmental issues.

"If a whole King can move from one place to the other to educate you on environmental issues why don't you take advantage of that to do what is right for our living", he said.

Mr Benson called on the managers of the Forestry Plantation Fund to give equal opportunities to every Region to reverse environmental degradation in the country.

Mr William Baah, Regional Manager of the Forestry Services Division, said 680 hectares of land in the Upper West Region was being reclaimed.

He said 30 communities were engaged in the exercise while more awareness was being created. 13 Aug 05