Tamale, Aug 16, GNA- Mr. Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, on Thursday handed over keys to office block, four quarters and two bungalows completed at a cost of over five billion cedis, to the Savanah Resource Management Centre in Tamale. He said the Ministry put up the building to facilitate the work of the Forestry Commission and the Centre, ensure effective forest resource management, and boost the country's economy towards the realisation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy goals. He asked the Forest Commission to maintain the buildings so that they could last longer.

Mr. Adjei-Yeboah also inspected a 60-heactare-mango plantation that was started six years ago, at Kuala near Tamale, and was being funded by the Global World Environment Facility. The Deputy Minister urged the Forestry Commission to ensure that the plantation was managed to the benefit of people and to educate them on forest conservation methods.

He urged the people to take advantage of the Project and generate more income to improve upon their living conditions. Mr. Musah Abu-Juam, Project Coordinator of the Savana Biodiversity Conservation Project, who received the keys on behalf of the Centre, commended government for building the facilities. He appealed to the people to assist the officials of the Commission to protect the plantation against bush fire.