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Business News of Tuesday, 9 March 2004

Source: INDEPENDENT

Osafo Marfo Causing Confusion

...TIMBER MILLERS LAMBASTED Him

Timber millers and the representatives of the Timber and Wood Workers Union (TAWU), have lambasted the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, for, as they put it, causing confusion in the industry.

The confusion, according to the millers and TAWU representatives, is the result of contradictory statements the Finance Minister made regarding the 7 per cent National Reconstruction Levy government imposed on the gross proceeds of timber companies three years ago.

The timber millers were reacting to a statement by the Finance Minister that sawdust waste in the timber industry alone is 40% due to obsolete machines and equipment used by the timber millers.

According to the Finance Minister, who was speaking on Kumasi Fox FM, it is not the levy but that huge saw dust waste that is crippling many timber industries.