The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development acting on the directives of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, have presented Equipment and Tools to the Department of Parks and Gardens in Accra.
The equipment and tools presented comprises: One (1) Tipper Truck (To replace the 30 year old one); Two (2) KIA Trucks fitted with Polytanks and Water Pumping machines; One (1) Toyota Land cruiser Prado vehicle; One (1) 4×4 Nissan Pick Up; Fourteen (14) Motorbikes; Three (3) Desktop Computers; Two (2) Laptop Computers; Twenty Nine (29) Mowing machines; Three (3) Drive Mowers; Twenty Four (24) Chain Saw machines; Twenty Four (24) Grass Cutters; Four (4) Polytanks, and Eleven (11) Ladders.
In a statement presented on behalf of the the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Hon. Daniel Botwe during the handing over ceremony by the Deputy, Hon. Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah stated that, considering the role of Department of Parks and Gardens towards the beautification and maintenance of roads in the country, it is important that the general public cooperates well with them. “It is only through this public support that the Department can perform its functions effectively”
The Minister’s statement revealed that, one of the core mandate of the Department is to maintain all the road medians in the country adding that, the maintenance of the road median do not only provide beautification in the cities and towns but also prevent erosion along the road.
“As the sector Minister, I am aware of the challenges facing the Department and I can assure you that all your issues are receiving the needed attention and today’s event beard testimony to that. However, I am delighted to note that in spite of all the challenges, the Department is still functioning and doing well. The Department over the period from 2019 till date exceeded its revenue target”.
He disclose that, there was a significant increase of 26% in IGF over the actual target last year saying, the Department carried out horticulture sensitization programmes to educate the general public on environmental awareness.
The Department of Parks and Gardens the Minister mentioned, is currently battling with land encroachment on its operational sites in Accra, Takoradi, Was and Tamale with most of the lands not having ownership titles.
He said, “As part of measures to resolve this, the Ministry has constituted a taskforce to conduct an assessment on all affected properties of the Department. It is expected that the team as part of its assignment will engage the landowners and the Lands Commission to facilitate proper acquisition of these lands for the operations of the Department”.
The Department of Parks and Gardens established by the Local Government Act (Act 54) and the Civil Service Act 1993 (section 12 of PNDCL 327), is mandated to ensure the development of the horticultural potentials of Ghana in line with the operationalizing the broad environmental policy directives as enshrined in the 1992 constitution.
The Department is mandated by law to develop and promote effective landscape beautification likewise, exist to cultivate and conduct research into horticultural products, manage floricultural sections, provide routine landscape maintenance of prestige areas.
Source: Environmental Guide