Koforidua, May 19, GNA - Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, has suggested the institution of a compensative mechanism for farmers whose farms get destroyed by wildfires. He expressed concern that most farmers who lose their livelihood through wildfire did not get any compensation and urged the government and other organizations to institute a type of mutual insurance scheme for farmers.

Daasebre Oti Boateng, who made the suggestion at the opening of a day's training workshop for media personnel in the Eastern Region at Koforidua on Wednesday, said the availability of a mutual farmers' insurance scheme would be most welcome. Mr Oppong Boadi, the Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, stressed the need for environmental impact assessment to sustain good environmental practices.

Mr Sylvester Sakye, the Regional Director of the Ghana Meteorological Agency, called on the public, especially farmers, to listen to the daily weather forecast to enable them plan their activities and called for weather forecast to be broadcast in vernacular by the radio stations.

Mr Joseph Boakye, the Deputy Regional Manager of the Forestry Services Division, said apart from wildfires, illegal chainsaw activities and the use of charcoal as fuel was threatening the forest reserves in the country.

He suggested the reduction in the price of the liquefied petroleum gas so that people could afford the use of the gas "because statistics show that about 60 to 70 percent of homes use charcoal and until they have found alternative affordable means, the forest would continue to be under threat."