The Youth of Zongoire, Binaba and Kusanaba in the Bawku West district of the Upper East Region have given a two-week ultimatum to the authorities that be to halt the illegal logging of rose wood trees in the area or face their wrath.
According to them, four operators namely; Savanna, Time concept, Kofi Veyor company and one other company are indiscriminately cutting trees which have a dire impact on their livelihood.
The youth wondered why the Forestry Commission will issue permits to the illegal operators to log trees indiscriminately without any afforestation plan.
Speaking at a press conference in Binaba, spokesperson for the youth, Atindogo Ramson accused the state agencies of failing to protect the forest reserve and the vegetative cover.
“who permitted these people to enter our forest and even plant their equipments there to be working day and night.
Now that the forest have been devastatingly destroyed, what is the remedy? or were these operators permitted only to fell off these trees without any afforestation plans” Mr. Atindogo quizzed.
The Youth are demanding an immediate halt of all activities of logging.
They demand of the regional forestry commission to urgently explain the mystery surrounding the issuance of the permits.
Mr. Atindogo appealed to the law enforcement agencies to urgently bring the perpetrators to book.
“We are sending a strong message to the forestry commission, the local government authorities, our traditional leaders and all the powers that be to urgently address the issue within two-week ultimatum or we the youth will advise ourselves accordingly to protect and safeguard our forest”
But Upper East Regional Director of the Forestry Commission, James Ware admitted that, some companies have been issued permits to pick only cut trees adding that their license expires on 31st October, 2016.
He noted that, some of the operators have been arrested and are currently at the Zebilla police station for cutting new trees instead of picking the ones that were already felled off.
Mr. Ware added that, more task force will be deployed to area to avert further logging of trees.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana