Takoradi, Aug. 5, GNA - The Minister of Lands and Forestry, Prof Dominic Fobi on Monday expressed the urgent need for heads of the various agencies under the Ministry to re-examine their roles and help redeem its sinking image.

He said there were a lot of delays in the processing of documents by the agencies under the Ministry.

These delays are due to inefficiencies exhibited by staff, lack of commitment and unethical behaviour of staff, he observed. In addition, the processing of documents sometimes delay because some staff expect or demand favours before processing them, the Minister added.

Prof Fobi raised the concern when he met heads of the various agencies and divisions under the ministry and stakeholders in the timber industry as part of a two-day tour of timber firms in the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis.

He said staff of the agencies were not punctual at work, and did not offer prompt service to the general public.

These practices have soiled the image of the ministry, he said and asked the heads to "sit up" and ensure that people working under them do the right things.

He advised the lands department to initiate a programme to educate the public on the procedure for registering their lands.

Prof. Fobi said the Timber Utilization Contract system was being replaced with competitive bidding system to ensure transparency. He explained that the competitive bidding system is a constitutional demand and would solve the alleged discrimination and malpractices in the allocation of the timber utilization contracts.