The Ahanta West District Assembly (AWDA) has expressed disgust about the fast depletion of its environment and resources by unpatriotic people for their personal economic gains and said steps had to be taken to reverse it.

Mr. Joseph Dofoyenah, District Chief Executive for the area, expressed worry that the negative practice had been extended to the Cape-Three-Points protected forest area with impunity.

He was speaking at a party held for the 54-member Assembly and the entire staff of the Administration at Agona Nkwanta during which 10 employees were awarded for their meritorious services.

They were presented with wax prints and electrical appliances while Mr Kwabena Kessie, the Principal Executive Officer, emerged the overall best worker and received a table-top refrigerator.

Mr. Dofoyena said majority of the people in the area depended on the natural resources for livelihood hence the need for the protection and preservation of the environment not only to benefit the present generation but for the future as well. He said the Assembly had strengthened its working relationship with stakeholders with interest in environmental protection and management to check further destruction and degradation of the environment.

The Assembly has accordingly invited “Hen Mpoano”, a Sekondi-Takoradi based NGO on the environment, for interaction relating to the protection of the coastal and marine resources.

“I hope our interaction with the team would further put us in a better position to appreciate the volume and extent of destruction taking place in the district as well as the threat such negative practices pose to today’s generation and generations yet unborn,” Mr Dofoyena said.

Alhaji Mohammed Hardi, the District Coordinating Director, called for hard work from the assembly members and the staff to enhance progress of the Assembly that is expected to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

Mr. Emmanuel Ekumi Andoh, the Presiding Member, said he was not happy that the Assembly failed in the past year to achieve improvement in its revenue collection, especially from the Area Councils.

He suggested that data on private properties located in the district be taken for assessment and subsequent fees/rates collection.

“Area Councils have adequate share in the revenue generated and therefore need to work hard to meet set targets,” Mr. Andoh said.