Effa -Dartey condemns warlords
Digya game reserve to be developed
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 October 2001 - Captain Nkrabea Effa-Dartey (RTD), Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Thursday lashed at African warlords and called for the seizure of their arms and operations.
Contributing to a statement in Parliament on the 56th anniversary of the UN, the Member for Berekum cited the wars in various parts of Africa, which have ravaged the people and condemned the warlords perpetuating them.
Mr Effa-Dartey, a lawyer who once defended Sierra Leonean rebel leader Foday Sankoh, avoided mentioning the war-torn diamond rich country in his condemnation of warlords.
The apparent omission attracted murmurs and catcalls from the minority side, prompting Mr. Steve Akorli, (NDC- Ho East), to rise on a point of order. "Mr Speaker, I don't understand why the Deputy Minister did not mention Warlord Foday Sanko of Sierra Leone. Is it because the man was his client? Please do not forget your client."
Although the Speaker ruled Mr Akorli out of order, Mr Effa-Dartey responded with: " I was doing my duty as a professional lawyer."
The Deputy Minister came under intense criticism during the parliamentary vetting for his ministerial appointment over his association with the detained Sankoh. The statement stood in the name of Mr Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri (NPP Nkawkaw).
GRi./
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 October 2001 - The Ministry of Tourism has earmarked the Digya Game Reserve for development within its 15-year tourism development framework during which it will benefit from the second phase of the Protected Area Development Programme (PADP).
Announcing this in Parliament on Thursday, Nana Akomea, Deputy Minister of Tourism said PADP would be funded by the European Union under its assistance to game reserves, starting from next year.
The Deputy Minister was answering a question by Kwakye Addo, NDC- Afram Plains South who wanted to know what concrete plans the ministry had to develop identified tourist attractions in the Afram Plains district such as the Digya Game reserve, the monkey sanctuary at Kwagyadu-aban and the Abotia Caves near
Bonkron.
Nana Akomea who stood in for the Minister, Ms Hawa Yakubu said the Digya reserve was the second largest after the Mole National Park in the West Gonja District.
There are a variety of flora and fauna species including primates, tropical birds, antelopes, elephants, hippopotamuses, water birds and the highly endangered West African manatee.
The PADP programme would initially review the management plans and implement the recommendations with the view to making the park accessible to tourists.
Nana Akomea said this would involve the improvement of access roads to the park from Kwahu Tafo to the Afram Plains and from Atebubu to Kwame Danso.
GRi.../
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