Chiefs appeal to Ministry to save timber company from collapse

Nyankumasi Ahenkro, (C/R) Aug.5, GNA - The Assin Atandansu Traditional Council on Tuesday appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Forestry, to allocate some of the timber concessions in the Assin Atandansu traditional area, to the BRM Wood Processing Company located there, to save it from total collapse.
They expressed concern that, due to the lack of concessions, only eight of the 14 wood processing equipment at the Company, were currently in operation.
The Council made the appeal at an emergency meeting at Nyankumasi Ahenkro.
It further appealed that as a matter of urgency, an immediate arrangement should be made to grant the Bimpong concession in the area to the company to enable it to stay in business, and thereby retain the workers "whose services are now in danger".
It observed that if remedial measures are not taken, the about 900 employees and their dependants, would face economic hardship. The Council said the Company, has also been rendering various forms of assistance, such as the provision of potable water to many communities in the area, as well as donating funds and furniture to schools and government organisations.
It later resolved to send a petition, as well as a delegation to the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Isaac Edumadze, and the Ministry of Lands and Forestry, about the plight of the company, for action.
Addressing members of the Council later, Nana Tibu Asare II, Omanhene of the area and president of the Council, urged them to also liaise with the Forest Services Division to ensure that timber trees on their stool lands, were sold to the Company, to keep it running, while awaiting the sector Ministry's reaction to the appeal.
Speaking to newsmen later at the Company's premises, the Managing Director, Mr.Eugenio Magrini, disclosed that the Company has not been granted any concession since its establishment in 1995.
He said it had only been issued with a 'timber utilisation permit' to enable it to purchase logs at Tumentu in the Nzema East district of the Western Region.
He however, said the utilisation of the permit had become difficult because the people of Tumentu were demanding the construction of "so many projects before allowing them to operate there."
According to him, the company's problems have been compounded by the refusal of its shareholders in Europe to contribute financially towards its operation, but said that the management was negotiating with some financial institutions in the country for assistance to re-vamp it.