Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands
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19th June, 2009
Plantation Development Fund To Be Streamlined
THE Plantation Development Fund, which gives credit facility to individuals and corporate organisations ready to embark on forestation and afforestation projects, is to be streamlined to eliminate fraudulent deals.
It has been detected that people and organisations with no connection with tree plantation have, in the past, gained access to millions of cedis from the fund
Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, disclosed this during a tour of timber firms and forest plantations in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
He said some timber firms had also taken money from the fund but had nothing to show for it while some individuals and organisations while had genuine interest to engage in tree planting were denied credit.
Alhaji Dauda said the purpose of the fund was to enable the country to undertake large-scale afforestation programmes and also to create jobs.
The minister hinted that as a first step, government will soon reconstitute the board of directors of the fund and further investigate how monies were disbursed.
In addition, government would also look at other sources of raising money for the fund.
He said tree plantation would be given a holistic approach with every district, municipal and metropolitan assembly being encouraged to embark on afforestation projects.
Part of the District Assemblies Common Fund, HIPC fund and other sources of internally generated revenue would be used to support these projects, which would not involve only the growing of commercial trees such as teak but also fruit trees such as mangoes and oranges which could enhance food security.
The minister, therefore, appealed to chiefs and land owners to voluntarily release land to the assemblies for the project.
It has been detected that people and organisations with no connection with tree plantation have, in the past, gained access to millions of cedis from the fund
Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, disclosed this during a tour of timber firms and forest plantations in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
He said some timber firms had also taken money from the fund but had nothing to show for it while some individuals and organisations while had genuine interest to engage in tree planting were denied credit.
Alhaji Dauda said the purpose of the fund was to enable the country to undertake large-scale afforestation programmes and also to create jobs.
The minister hinted that as a first step, government will soon reconstitute the board of directors of the fund and further investigate how monies were disbursed.
In addition, government would also look at other sources of raising money for the fund.
He said tree plantation would be given a holistic approach with every district, municipal and metropolitan assembly being encouraged to embark on afforestation projects.
Part of the District Assemblies Common Fund, HIPC fund and other sources of internally generated revenue would be used to support these projects, which would not involve only the growing of commercial trees such as teak but also fruit trees such as mangoes and oranges which could enhance food security.
The minister, therefore, appealed to chiefs and land owners to voluntarily release land to the assemblies for the project.
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