Osiem chief clears the air

THE CHIEF of Osiem, near Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region, Nana Barima Poku III, has debunked the claim by some of his people that he has signed away for peanuts the entire Osiem Stool Lands for timber harvest, to a Takoradi Wood Processing Company.

He described the allegation as false, saying that “I have no authority to grant concessions.”

The company in question, Metro Wood Processing Company, has been harvesting timber in the area for the past one year, and honouring its social responsibility to the community.

During an exclusive interview at Nana Poku’s Palace at Osiem during the weekend, he disclosed that ?10million out of a total of ?25million promised the stool has so far been paid.

“They pay every month,” the chief said. Some of the people are however complaining that the compensations fall short of their expectation.

One Kwame Donkor, whose 373 cocoa trees got destroyed as a result of the tree felling, was said to have been given a paltry ?600,000.

When I brought this issue to the attention of the Osiem chief, he said it is not he who fixed compensations, and that Forestry Commission has laid down rules and regulations guiding issues of compensations.

When this reporter spoke to Mr. Hamza, the country manager of Metro Star Wood Processing Company on his cell phone, he did not deny the fact that someone could have been under-paid.

His position was that any farmer who has any caution to complain about compensation should just put in into writing and send to the chief.

If the matter is investigated and found to be meritorious, the company should pay.

Meanwhile, Nana Poku III has assured his people that, as an ex-forester, he is keen on defending their interests and not to connive with outsiders to cheat the very people whose rights he has sworn to defend.

He claimed the timber harvest is not being done in Osiem alone, but the entire district.

“The Forest Commission has a map of this area with all the viable trees plotted on it, it is they who grant all the concession,” he told this reporter.

It is when the concession is given, Nana continued, that the company comes to hold dialogue with the chief and people.

“I had five meetings with the people, and they all agreed to the project,” he said. He deplored the idea of people going round and insinuating things, which are not true. He said he was ready to receive any aggrieved person for discussion.