NFPDP To Create 51000 Jobs By 2011

A National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) which will be launched in January 2010 is expected to create jobs for about 30,000 people mainly the unemployed youth who will be recruited as reforestation work gangs under the programme in 100 districts. The employment opportunities to be created by the NFPDP is targeted to increase to 51000 by 2011 when the programme is implemented in all the 170 districts in the country. The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Buem Hon. Ford Kamel disclosed this in parliament today in response to a question by the MP for Atwima Nwabiagya hon Benito Owusu Bio. Hon. Bio wanted the minister to outline his Ministry�s plans to expand the forest plantations established under the presidential special initiative on afforestation which was implemented by the NPP government. Hon. Kamel said the National Forest Plantation Development Programme has already been approved by cabinet and will help increase the tree cover of the country when it is implemented in 2010.