Chief accuses assembly members of illegal timber felling

Wenchi (B/A), July 29, GNA - Osagyefo Ampem Abrefa Mmore-Bediatuo VI, Omanhene of Wenchi, alleged on Monday that some members of the Wenchi District Assembly were involved in illegal timber felling in the area.

The Omanhene said attempts he made to find a solution to the problem had proved futile because those involved had refused to respond to his invitation on several occasions.

He said the problem was also aggravated by the fact that a section of the assembly members were not giving him the necessary co-operation to bring the perpetrators to book.

Osagyefo Mmore-Bediatuo made the allegation when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing led by its Chairman, Mr Sampson Otu Darko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ga North, called on him at his palace.

The Committee visited Wenchi as part of a two-day tour of Brong-Ahafo to ascertain the state of the various water projects undertaken in recent years under the supervision of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).

Osagyefo Mmore-Bediatuo praised the government for the execution of the water project in Wenchi but said that the town was expanding very fast and the capacity of the system might not be enough for the residents and satellite communities.

He complained of the poor drainage system in the town resulting in excessive flooding during the rainy season and called for the expansion of the drainage facilities under the Urban Five Project to bring the situation under control.

The Chief called for the completion of the Wenchi market to give a boost to trading activities in the town and commended the government for the proposed creation of Tan District to cover the Wenchi West Constituency.

Mr Darko assured the Omanhene that his concerns would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters in government for redress. Mr Joe Danquah, District Chief Executive for Wenchi, said the assembly would investigate the allegation of illegal timber felling and bring the culprits to book.