Destruction of Farm Crops

Withdraw permit of guilty timber coys - Chief urges

Oyoko-Koforidua -- The Chief of Oyoko, Nana Kondua Kesse II and his subjects, have called on the government to withdraw permits issued to timber companies who are felling tress in cash crop growing areas.

The call for the withdrawal of the permit is in view of the wanton destruction timber activities are causing to cash crops especially cocoa and kola at this time of the year when they are when they are in their peak season.

Oyokohene and his subjects made the call at a meeting which was to discuss the issuing of permit to a timber company based in Takoradi called Metrostar Wood Processing (MWP) for timber activities in the township without his concert and people of Oyoko.

Chronicle investigations revealed that an agreement was signed between the company and the Krontihene Kofi Adjei Ababio II who was acting as the Adonteenhene, Nana Owusu Ababio, Ayokohene Nana Owusu Ababio II Nifahene, Nana Agyei-Hene Acheampong II Gyasehene and the Queen Mother Nana Akommah Animah II.

The investigation further revealed that these signatories signed the agreement because the date in question February 3, this year the Oyokohene who double as Adontenhene of New Juaben Traditional Area (NJTA) has by then been suspended by the traditional authority.

A copy of the agreement which is in the hands of Chronicle stated that, MWP would pay the sum of six million cedis which is subject to review after a period of two year.

The six million cedis if paid will go to support development projects in Oyoko township as the agreement will be in full-force for five years. Upon hearing this, the people mainly Kola and cocoa farmers kicked against the acceptance of the agreement describing it as a "ghost agreement."

Speaking to the Chronicle after the meeting, a cocoa farmer, Mr. Justice Oduro highly appreciated the concern the government has shown for their welfare and warned that any attempt to sabotage the gesture would be avoided.

"We will never allow them to destroy our cocoa farms to knock us out of job," Oduro warned.