GTA Replants 200 Hectares of Degraded Bounfum Forest Reserve

The Ghana Timber Association (GTA) as part of its reforestation programme started two years ago had replanted 200 hectares of the degraded Bounfum Forest Reserve at Ananekrom, near Agogo in the Asante-Akim North District.

Mr Jonathan A. Armah, National President of the Association, who announced this said 200,000 seedlings of various species including teak, cedrella and Ceiba had been planted.

He was addressing an extraordinary general meeting of the GTA at the Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC) at Akyawkrom, near Ejisu.

Mr Armah said the target was to replant 1,000 hectares of the degraded reserve, adding that, the programme would be replicated in other parts of the country.

He said that they had so far spent 197.4 million cedis on the Bounfum project, which was being implemented through a two per cent levy on the sale of round logs by members of the association.

Earlier, the meeting accepted the audited accounts of the GTA for the year 2000 that was presented by J. K. Boakye and Company, Chartered Accountants in Kumasi.

There was however disagreement over the choice of Assin Fosu in the Central Region as the venue of the GTA General Meeting at which election of new National

Officers would be conducted.

Messrs M.K. Sarbeng and Kwame Boateng, alias Apeegie, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regional Chairmen of the Association, walked out of the meeting accusing

some members of the incumbent National Executive of pursuing a hidden agenda to "Hijack the GTA and cling on to Power".