The state’s inability to keep up with their allowance payment and other issues have left the future of the youth in the afforestation program in limbo.
Chief executive officer of the forestry commission, john allotey, says the concept as a whole is being re-examined to determine whether it should continue or not.
The youth in afforestation programme was introduced in 2018 as a flagship initiative.
Its aim was to restore degraded forest cover through reforestation, rehabilitation and protection.
The programme kicked off in a grand style nationwide with a huge number of beneficiaries above the targeted 20,000 people, who were eager to help fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the initiators.
However, agitations and demonstrations rocked the programme a few months into the operation mainly due to the non-payment of allowances.
Sometimes these allowances can be in arrears for close to twelve months.
Speaking on the sideline of the school’s debate as part of the 2023 world forest day, the ceo of the forestry commission, John Allotey, said the future of the propgramme is in the balance.
John Allotey also touched on the delayed allowance syndrome.
The debate was on the topic, of mining contribute significantly to ghana’s foreign exchange and gdp; some of the ore deposits are found in forest reserves; do you think we should mine in the forest reserves?
Achimota school picked yes to the question while presec picked no.
The debaters intellectually assigned reasons why it is important to mine or not to mine in the forest reserves.
Pressec emerged the winners of the debate.
Both schools were presented with cash and other items.
The programme is to be a role out nationwide to build interest in the youth environment, forest and biodiversity.
By Peter Quao Adattor
