Wildfire spreads across 500 acres of farms at Banso

More than 500 acres of food and cash crop farms have been destroyed by raging wildfires at Banso and other farming communities near Obogu in the Asante-Akim South District.

Cocoa, plantain, citrus and vegetables are among the crops destroyed.

Distraught affected farmers, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said “only God knows” how they and their families are going to survive   with their farms – their only source of livelihood in ruins.

They appealed to the government to provide them with food aid.

Nana Kwaku Offei, Kyidomhene of Banso, said it was the worst fire disaster to have struck the area in so many years.

The massive destruction of not only farms but forest reserves was going to have devastating impact on the economic situation of the population, he noted.

The fire was believed to have been caused through the recklessness of some individuals and Nana Kweku Offei appealed to all to remain vigilant and assist to arrest those whose activities trigger wildfires.

Mr. Dzakey Yao Forster, Banso Zonal Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), said they would inspect the affected farms to determine the kind of immediate assistance that could be offered.

He urged the people to desist from practices that could lead to such disasters especially during this period of the dry season.

Source: GNA