Some of the angry residents

A group, calling itself Concerned Citizens of Sissala Land, has raised concerns about the increasing rate of illegal felling of rosewood, an endangered tropical hardwood specie in the area.

The situation, it claimed, had become alarming following the building of a wood processing factory along the Tumu-Navrongo road which is near a forest reserve.

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Rosewood at the Bachopong and Li Sonqunn wood factory

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem programme, Tuesday, co-convener of the group, Sule Demtie bemoaned how the Forestry Commission had turned a blind eye to it and is allegedly facilitating the building of the wood factory, Bachopong and Li Sonqunn close to the forest reserve.

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A resident expressing anger

Mr Demtie also expressed disappointment in the Sissala East District Assembly for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese company at the expense of the indigenes.

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“The citing and operations of this factory poses a perilous threat to the environment on which we all owe our very survival to,” he added.

Concerned Citizens of Sissala

He said they have given the Assembly one-week ultimatum to stop the establishment of the wood processing factory and revoke its permit because its activities are not in the interest of the people in Sissala East.

In a rebuttal, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sissala East, Karim Nanya denied signing any MoU with the Chinese company.

He explained that, they gave them only building permit when Bachopong and Li Sonqunn showed them their source of raw material.

The Sissala East DCE maintained that, the Chinese company will be engaging in illegality if the allegation by the group is true.

Mr Nanya urged the Concerned Citizens of Sissala Land to remain calm as he works to ensure the company does the right thing.

Source: Ghana | Adomonline.com | Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman