Stop timber firm from destroying farms - Bobikuma Chiefs

Upper Bobikuma (C/R), March 3, GNA - The Chiefs and People of Upper Bobikuma in the Central region have appealed to the authorities to intervene to stop the destruction of cash and food crops by Metro Star Timber Company.

Nana Yaw Buabeng, Chief of Upper Bobikuma speaking at a meeting with the people on Sunday said the Company through its operations in the area had forcibly entered farms and destroyed food and cash crops. He said heavy equipment of the company had destroyed the main pipeline from Agona Swedru to Ajumako while a stream flowing through the area had been blocked through the construction of bush path to evacuate logs from the bush.

According to the Chief the area has been hit with a severe water shortage with the people relying on abandoned wells, adding that, school children have to walk long distances in search of water, which he said was not fit for human consumption.

He said attempts to get the company to resolve the issue have not been successful, adding that, "Upper Bobikuma is far away from the forest reserve and I see no reason why a concession has been approved for Metro Star Timber Company to fell trees".

The Chief pointed out that "the huge sums of money voted for the mass cocoa spraying exercise would go waste if cocoa farms can be destroyed through such activities".

Ms Elizabeth Baffoe Bonney, Assemblywoman, said the people protested over the granting of the concession for the company since there was no forest reserve in the area.

She said they lodged their protest to the Agona District Chief Executive, Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, who asked them to write to the Ministry of Land and Forestry and a delegation was sent from Accra to meet the chiefs and the people to iron out the problem.

The Assemblywoman stressed that even though the people appreciated the role of foreign investors in the country, they would not allow the company to destroy their property and "pay small compensation". Mr Kofi Quansah, Bush Manager, said the management of the company was prepared to compensate people whose farms would be destroyed during the operation.

He appealed to the Forestry Service Department and the Government for assistance to evacuate the company's logs from bush since the Chiefs and the people have vowed not to allow the company to transport timber through their cash and food crop farms.