Illegal loggers creating problems in Wa District

Residents in the Wa East District have expressed unease about the activities of some lumber companies who are indiscriminately felling valuable trees in the District.

They said the destruction of trees in the area could cause deforestation and affect agriculture production and the economic livelihoods of the people.

The residents raised these concerns at a Wa East District Assembly’s Town Hall meeting at Funsi.

The inhabitants said the predominant occupation in the area was farming and did not understand why the authorities are unable to resolve the situation.

Mr Isaac Adonteng, the Upper West Regional Manager of the Ghana Forestry Commission, said the Commission has not given any permit to a company to fell trees but the permit was given to collect abandoned rosewoods in the forest.

He expressed surprise that companies that were licensed to collect abandoned rosewoods lying in the forest are now felling trees.

Mr Abudul-Karimu Abudu, Wa East District Chief Executive, appealed to the community members to exercise patience while the assembly and the Ghana Forestry Commission collaborate to address the matter.

He also appealed to the community members who were facilitating the felling of trees to desist from such behaviour.