WILDFIRE PREVENTION FOOTBALL GALA COMPETITION LAUNCHED AT THE TANO SOUTH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY’S HALL

A short but impressive presentation of the wildfire prevention football gala competition trophy has been held at Bechem in the Tano South District to launch the competition and to get in readiness the competing teams to prepare for the day.

The wildfire prevention drive which is under the auspices of the Forestry Division, the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ministry of Agriculture is to create awareness to the public about the effects of bush fires and its prevention.

In a speech at the presentation ceremony, the District Fire Commander A.D.O III, Micheal Ato Korsah said, for many years, the issue of bush fires in the Tano South District has been a matter of great concern and that the effects of bush fires on livelihood in the District over the years have increasingly become damaging  and said, last year over one hundred and seventy eight (178) cocoa farms were burnt and it is for this reason that the three outfits have taking the trouble to educate the masses on bushfires through the use of football gala competition.

The District Fire Commander commended the District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba for his immense contribution in the event of bushfires as he normally mobilizes Fire Volunteers to meet the task before even the Fire Service Personnels arrived at the scene and said, this has in one way or the other contributed to the saving of fortunes by farm owners which could have been lost through the bush fires.

Mr. Vincent Maya of the District NADMO Secretariat in a speech hinted that, since November, 2015 to March, 2016 all disaster related issues reported to his outfit has been as a result of fire outbreaks and called on them to discard the notion that NADMO gives compensation to the fire victims since NADMO is just there to supply relief items to such victims and called on all presents to help educate the masses on fire prevention measures.

Addressing the gathering, the Regional Wildfire Coordinator, A.D.O.I, Baffour Gyau said that majority of these fires which occurred  in the Tano South District were largely caused by the activities of human beings which ranges from farming, hunting, charcoal burning, palm wine tapping, smoking and many more which destroys the forest and appealed to all and sundry to participate in the education drive and awareness creation through the various activities lined up for the project which include the football gala competition.

The Tano South District Manager of the Forestry Division, Mr. Nichloas Awuku congratulated all present and urged them to bring “ all hands on deck” to combat wildfire outbreaks in the Tano South District and handed over the Trophy to the Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba

Receiving the trophy, the Tano South District Chief Executive in a speech commended the stakeholders for coming up with such initiative as part of the public education drive to combat wildfire in the District, since the football gala would also bring people from all walks of life together to watch the matches and that could be seen as another avenue of creating the awareness of wildfires.

Hon. Anaba said the incidence of bushfires are seasonal and mostly occur in the dry season (hammatan) which usually leaves the vegetation dry and called on people to desist from any actions and inactions which could lead to bush burning and called on all to rally behind the initiative and support the good course.

Balloting for the pairings of the matches was made and the teams lined up for the football gala competition were drawn from the Ghana Police Service, District Assembly, Farmers group, G.P.R.T.U, National Fire Service, Butchers  Association, Health Service and the National Health Insurance Scheme.