Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, Chief of Sefwi-Bonzain in the Juaboso district of the Western North Region, has appealed to the Western North Regional Minister and other stakeholders to help protect forest reserves in the area from illegal loggers.

According to Nana Ofori Ahenkan, who is also the Kontihene for the Wiawso traditional council, the Shuhyen and Agyimadiem Forest were on the verge of collapse and needed immediate action to restore them for generations unborn.

The traditional ruler said this when the Regional minister, Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum, and officials from the Western North Regional co-ordinating council paid a courtesy call on him as part of the minister’s familiarization tour of the region

“People have gone in these forests and are doing everything they can to harvest lumber and this is not the best and such indiscipline must stop,” he said.

He urged the new minister to do everything possible to protect the region’s forest from further depletion.

Mr Brentum said his outfit was aware of encroachers in the forest and that he would do everything possible within his power to stop them and their activities.

He called for collaboration between the Regional co-ordinating council and the traditional authorities for accelerated development in the region.

The Regional minister, as part of the tour, also visited Aowin, Suaman and Bodi districts.