Pay stumpage fees now - GTA tells members

Takoradi, Feb 20, GNA - The Ghana Timber Association (GTA) has called on its members who are indebted in stumpage fees to the Forestry Commission as at October 2006 to settle their arrears by February 28. This was contained in a communiqu=E9 issued after the association's executive meeting held at Kumasi over the weekend.

The communiqu=E9 signed by Mr. Alexander K. Dadzie, National Vice-Chairman of the GTA asked its members to take advantage of the agreement signed between the GTA and the Forestry Commission to cover the unpaid debts.

It asked that the remaining arrears should be paid in 40 percent instalments by March 31 and June 30 in fulfilment of the agreements with the FC.

Under the agreement, members of the GTA are expected to pay the arrears in three instalments.

The statement said receipts of the payments from the FC should be sent to the GTA for renewal.

The communiqu=E9 stated that members who failed to settle their indebtedness to the FC by the deadline would be charged an additional five percent penalty.

It asked the Forestry Services Division (FSD) to renew Property Marks of the GTA members who posses recommendation from the association. The communiqu=E9 urged the FC to re-visit the quota system of the GTA to prevent members from accumulating their bills due to insufficient logs.