Chainsaw operations still illegal

Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - The Ministry of Lands and Forestry on Friday said it was rather going to enforce the law that banned the use of chainsaw to mill timber

The Minister in a statement issued in Accra on Friday denied ever saying that the law was to be reviewed to favour the illegal activities of the chainsaw operators.

The statement said the publication in an Accra daily that the law was to be repealed was false and the: "Ministry wishes to make it known to the general public that this is a gross misrepresentation and distortion of facts contained in the Minister's address delivered at the workshop in Kumasi".

It said: "The general public is, therefore, reminded that the use of chainsaw for lumbering activities still remains an illegal act and any one who contravenes the law will be dealt with accordingly."

It explained that the Minister, Professor Dominc Fobih had made reference to the Timber Resource Management Act of 1997, which completely outlawed chainsaw lumbering activities in the country and had observed that in spite of the law, the problem of chainsaw lumbering still persisted and was even on the ascendancy.

He had stated that after initial examinations of the situation and all pertinent issues involved the Ministry was in the process of adopting a more positive and proactive approach to the resolution of the problem to make Act547 more enforceable.

The statement said some of the measures to be adopted included the creation of alternative livelihood schemes for the large number of illegal chainsaw operators.

It said timber companies were being encouraged to employ some of the chain saw operators to assist them in harvesting and cross cutting of timber in more difficult areas.

The statement said the Ministry was exploring the feasibility of charging chain saw operators all the statutory fees and charges for the grant of access to the resource to fell and crosscut trees just as legitimate logging and saw milling companies.

It said the programmes would be backed by massive public education through both the print and electronic media to ensure that all stakeholders were brought on board for its successful implementation.

The Ministry was also holding consultations with the Attorney - General's Office to ensure that illegal chainsaw offenders were speedily brought to trial.