The Central Regional Division of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has called on the Ministry of Local Government to aid in the enforcement of the Control and Prevention of Bushfire Act 1990 (PNDCL 229) in the region.

According to the Central Regional GNFS, Ghana having battled bushfire for years, upon further consultations on solution to curb the effect bushfires poses to the country, had the Control and Prevention of Bushfire Act 1990' (PNDCL 229) passed to make it illegal to burn the bush for any reason.

Enactment of the Bushfire Act 1990 made anybody whose action leads to uncontrolled burning of farm, grass land or the environment, contravene the law and can be jailed up to 2 years.

Hence the call for the Local Government Ministry to have the law implemented across local Assemblies in the Central Region to serve as deterrent to its indigenes as bushfire emerge one of the major fires recorded in the region.

The Central Regional GNFS Public Relations Officer, DOIII Abdul Wasiu Hudu in an interview with Sompa News Eric Annan had his outfit's clarion plea to the Local Government Ministry issued.

"As part of the solution to reduce the effect of bushfires in the country, the 'Control and Prevention of Bushfire Act of 1990' (PNDCL 229) was passed."

"This law makes it illegal to burn the bush for any reason. Thus Anybody whose action leads to uncontrolled burning of farm, grass land or the environment, contravene the law and can go to jail up to 2 years."

"Most importantly, the law mandates all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to constitute 'Bushfire Control Sub-committee from the Executive Committee of the Assembly' which most Assemblies haven't implemented," he underscored.

"According to the Act, the Sub-committee as part of its major function, is to draw up appropriate laws to ensure adequate prevention, control and monitoring of bushfires."

"The failure of Assemblies to implement these laws has affected the bushfire battle in the region leading to lost of properties and destruction to the vegetation."

"Bushfires are one of the major fires recorded in the Central Region with hundreds of acres of land plantations getting destroyed to bushfire yearly, as the worrying menace turns to affect food security in the region."

"Almost all the Assemblies in the Central Region has no Bushfire Control Sub-committee even though the law stipulates it."

"We appeal to the Ministry of Local Government to direct various Assemblies to comply with this important legal provision to help save the environment, farmlands, and vegetations," DOIII Abdul Wasiu Hudu beseeched.

Source//Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan