This was the concern expressed by the District Chief Executive for the area, Thomas Mbomba when he visited some communities with Citi FM.

During the tour, several illegal logs were seen in the bush and in some of the communities, an indication of how serious the problem of illegal felling of trees in that part of the region is.

Thomas Mbomba however told Citi FM that his outfit is working seriously to curb the illegal act.

“The issue of logging has been a bane on us as an Assembly because we live in the desert area. The whole of northern region is a desert-like region and there is even a law banning logging unless the situation is so critical that is for the benefit of the society. The situation is seriously affecting our environment, the rainfall pattern has been affected as a result of the illegal felling of trees.”

He also claimed that a number of the illegal loggers are foreigners, adding that some arrests have alreadybeen made.

“Most of the people we arrest are foreigners. We have arrested about 15 cars carrying logs and only two were from Ghana.

“The problem is we those by the borders we have our relatives in the other countries so it is always our challenge but whiles they find their way into our territory we will arrest them and confiscate everything,” he said.

The DCE says a number of measures have been put in place to deal with the situation.

He mentioned a collaboration with the sister districts to jointly fight the canker.

“We have resolved in our assembly meeting that henceforth if we see a car carrying logs, whether the person has a permit or not, whether they are being directed from Accra, we are not going to entertain that. Most of the illegal loggers are in the bush with their trucks and the problem is where are they going to escape because Zabzugu is alert, Bimbilla, Yendi and Wulensi are all alert. We have a collaboration to jointly deal with this issue such that we will end it in our corridor,” he added.

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By: Mohammed Aminu M Alabira/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Illegal logging putting Tatale-Sanguli at risk of desertification appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to them, four operators namely; Savanna, Time concept, Kofi Veyor company and one other company are indiscriminately cutting trees which have a dire impact on their livelihood.

The youth wondered why the Forestry Commission will issue permits to the illegal operators to log trees indiscriminately without any afforestation plan.

Speaking at a press conference in Binaba, spokesperson for the youth,  Atindogo Ramson accused the state agencies of failing to protect the forest reserve and the vegetative cover.

“who permitted these people to enter our forest and even plant their equipments there to be working day and night.

Now that the forest have been devastatingly destroyed, what is the remedy? or were these operators permitted only to fell off these trees without any afforestation plans” Mr. Atindogo  quizzed.

The Youth are demanding an immediate halt of all activities of logging.

They  demand of  the regional forestry commission to urgently explain the mystery surrounding the issuance of the permits.

Mr. Atindogo  appealed to the law enforcement agencies to urgently bring the perpetrators to book.

“We are sending a strong message to the forestry commission, the local government authorities, our traditional leaders and all the powers that be to urgently address the issue within two-week ultimatum or we the youth will advise ourselves accordingly to protect and safeguard our forest”

But Upper East Regional Director of the Forestry Commission,  James Ware admitted that, some companies have been issued permits to pick only cut trees adding that their license expires on 31st October, 2016.

He noted that, some of the operators have been arrested and are currently at the Zebilla police station for cutting new trees instead of picking the ones that were already felled off.

Mr. Ware added that, more task force will be deployed to area to avert further logging of trees.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Stop illegal logging now else… – Bawku West youth appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.