Kumasi, Feb 11, GNA - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is to undertake a USD$1.5 million ecological project to protect and manage Bosomtwe Lake and other natural resources in its basin.

The project, the brainchild of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, would be funded by the Spanish government.

The goal is to ensure that effective policies are in place to protect the Lake and natural vegetation around it as well as identify, create and provide alternative livelihood opportunities for the people in the fringe communities.

Mr Tirso A.S. Dos Santos, acting Director of UNESCO West Africa Region, made these known at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Organization and the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Friday. He said it would be for two years and would be done in collaboration with the Palace and the government to build the capacities of people living along the lake and offer them alternative livelihood to divert activities that over-burden it.

Mr Dos Santos said effective consultations would be held with people in the various communities to come out with appropriate projects that would benefit the people, adding that, the aim is to make the people 93own the projects and make them sustainable." A community radio station would also be established under the project t= o provide information and other educational resources for the people on how t= o manage the lake.

The objective is not to prevent the people from using the resource but help them 93do it differently to protect its natural form." Mr Alatar Testay, Consultant in-charge of Natural Sciences at UNESCO Office, Accra, said the project would assist to reduce deforestation and poverty.

Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempinhene, who signed the MOU on behalf of the Asantehene, thanked the Spanish government and UNESCO for the project. He said proper and scientific management of the Lake has been left unattended for far too long and that Otumfuo Osei Tutu wanted to see the lake, the largest natural one in Africa, well managed and protected for posterity.