Concerned workers of Sokoban Wood Village in the Ashanti region have asked the government to resolve issues affecting their operations within two weeks.
The irate wood merchants besieged Adehye FM premises on Monday 26 February 2018, arguing that they have certification to retail processed wood but some persons at the Forestry Commission are preventing them from trading.
The group alleged that their trucks have been impounded with unknown reasons and are being charged GHS10,000 in order for the vehicles to be released. According them, failure to pay the monies will result in the products being confiscated.
A member of the group, Akwasi Nyamekye, in an interview described the action by the commission as deception after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government promised to develop the wood industry should they vote for them to capture political power.
The group has therefore resolved to boycott tax payments, duties and subsequently embark on a demonstration if government fails to address their grievances.
Meanwhile, a Forestry Commission Officer in Charge of Special Duty, Charles Owusu, has refuted the allegations. He explained that the wood merchants are breaching certain regulations of the Commission.
Mr Owusu argued that in a recent meeting with retailers of wood products, the commission outlined steps to be followed adding that Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) has advanced plans to take stocks of the merchants to aid them load and offload their goods.
He cautioned the group not to dent the image of the commission adding that it was only protecting and preserving the national forests.
Source:Ghana/AccraFM.com
