Chainsaw operations will be stamped out -- Minister

Tanom (B/A), July 21, GNA - The Minister of Lands and Forestry, Doctor Christina Amoako-Nuama, has stated that the dismantling of the timber task force is not rpt not a tacit approval of illegal chainsaw operations and timber extraction.

She said her ministry is determined more than ever before to put a stop to the activities of chainsaw operators and unapproved logging in the country's forests once and for all.

Dr Amoako-Nuama was addressing the chief and people of Tanom, near Sunyani as part of her inspection tour of organisations and institutions under her ministry in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Tuesday.

She went to the village specifically to console the family of a member of the community's watchdog committee who was run-over by a truck loaded with timber logs at mid-night about a month ago.

Kwasi Antwi, a 50-year-old teacher, was in the company of other members of the committee checking illegal logging said to be endemic in the nearby Mankran forest reserve when the incident occurred. The matter is under police investigations.

Dr Amoako-Nuama assured the people of adequate protection for honest people helping to protect forest reserves from indiscriminate and illegal exploitation.

Cases in which the lives of people are being threatened or even lost for checking the destruction of the forests through illegal activities would be pursued to their logical conclusion and culprits made to face the full rigours of the law, she added.

Dr Amoako-Nuama noted that the timber utilisation contract scheme and other measures being evolved by her ministry would increase the people's awareness and their desire to protect economic trees on their farms and the forest reserves.

For instance, she said, some selected sawmills would soon be encouraged to sell boards and scantlings to satisfy local demand instead of the people depending on chainsaw operators for their supplies.

She also announced that there would be vigorous checks to impound vehicles used to transport lumber through illegal operations, adding that, legislative instrument 1649 bans chainsaw operators in the country and appealed to the people to help to enforce the ban.

Dr Amoako-Nuama later presented drinks and 50,000 cedis to the family of the late Mr Kwasi Antwi.