Techiman (B /A), May 7, GNA - A traditional ruler in Techiman municipality has called on the inhabitants living near the Asubima Forest reserve to cooperation and supervision it, to save the area from illegal loggers.
Nana Joseph Ackerson, Odikro of Atabourso, stated that if immediate steps were not taken by the Forestry Commission, the reserve would in no time be depleted through the stealing of the teak trees by some unscrupulous timber contractors. The chief, who is chairman of African Afforestation Association, told the Ghana News Agency in Techiman that in spite of several warnings the perpetrators had continued with the practice with glee. He cited an instance where on April 25 this year, a task force impounded a KIA truck with registration number AS 7201 V being used to load some teak trees from the reserve.
Nana Ackerson said it was alleged that a local timber contractor and his driver were involved and that the police in Techiman were investigating the case, adding that, officials of the Offinso Forestry Department in Ashanti Region had taken over the vehicle and the logs. He advised opinion leaders of communities with forest reserves to ensure that timber contractors possessed permits before allowing them to operate and urged the Forestry Commission to prosecute perpetrators in court.
