Nkoranza (B/A), Dec. 28, GNA- Mr Kofi Busia, Presiding Member of the Nkoranza District Assembly has urged opinion leaders in the communities to support and encourage local fire volunteers to combat bushfires during the harmattan season. He said Assembly Members, traditional authorities and members of unit committees had a responsibility in helping to curb the outbreak of bushfires, which he said most often brought untold hardship to victims and degraded the vegetation.

Addressing the third ordinary meeting of the fifth session of the Assembly at Nkoranza, Mr Busia expressed his concern about the rampant outbreak of bushfires in the area every year.

"Assembly members must call a meeting of the people and educate them to help control the menace, which is caused mainly through human activities, to save the environment and personal properties", the Presiding Member stressed.

Mr Busia cautioned farmers, palm wine tappers and honey hunters to be very cautious during their operations to avoid setting off bushfires. He urged the Assembly Members to organize their communities to undertake self-help development projects, in order to attract the support of government and non-governmental organizations.

The Presiding Member asked them to maintain the unity and co-operation that had characterized their deliberations to enhance the development of the communities.

Mr James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, District Chief Executive, disclosed that the government would from next year provide funds for the construction and tarring of the streets in Nkoranza, covering a total distance of 15 kilometres.

He commended the Assembly Members for their immense contributions to the steady growth of the district and wished them well in their deliberations in the next year and beyond.