Green Ghana Project in Danger as Youth in Afforestation threaten Boycott
“If they pay us today, we shall do the work with alacrity!
This year’s Green Ghana Programme is likely to meet a set-back as the youth in Afforestation, who are charged with undertaking the planting have threatened to boycott the programme.
Their Reason?
According to them they have not been paid for the past eleven 11 months, yet they go to work everyday. They maintained that, last year, during the programme, they were severely beaten by the rains, but at the end of the programme they were only treated to some biscuits and drinks and a year on they have not been paid a dime, arguing that the concerned authorities have had enough money to buy seedlings and drawn an elaborate programme, yet those charged with the responsibility of planting have not been paid .
“If they pay us today, we shall do the work with alacrity!
When District Forestry manager, Mark Aidoo was contacted, he said he could not explain why they had not been paid because, he did not employ them. He was however quick to point out that it is not peculiar to his jurisdiction alone, but all over the country.
Meanwhile, he has indicated that they have changed the modus operandi of the programme, that is moving from planting the trees in homes and along road sides. This is because such trees are often destroyed by animals and human activities.
He maintained that they will target individual farmers in the forest (tonture) system
By S.O Ankamah, Sefwi Juaboso
