The Nanumba South District of the Northern Region, has seized chainsaw machines in the district as part of efforts to halt illegal felling of trees in the area.
The Assembly formed a committee responsible for combating illegal chainsaw operations in the district.
There is rampant felling of Rosewood in the district by illegal operators, an the Assembly has vowed to combat it.
Yahaya Ziblila, an Assembly member and Chairman of the Illegal Chainsaw Operations Committee formed by the Nanumba South district, spoke to Citi News about some of the measures the Committee has put in place to fight the canker.
“We are working in collaboration with the police to ensure that illegal chainsaw operations in the district are dealt with. We have made a number of arrest of the operators, and currently at Bandiyili, we confiscated a machine used in the operation. We got the information about their activities in the area and quickly moved in, but unfortunately we did not see them and only saw a number of the Rosewoods that they have fell and their machine used in the business, so we confiscated it in anticipation that they would follow up to the district’’.
He however told Citi News that one the challenges they are confronted with is the involvement of traditional authorities who are complicit in the activities of these illegal operators.
“We sometimes have a very big challenge because some of the traditional authorities are the ones giving the permit to these illegal operators, and we have resolved to deal seriously with any traditional authority who is found to be complicit in the activities of these illegal operators’’.
Mr. Ziblila added that the committee has tasked all assembly members in the district to be vigilant in their electoral areas by quickly giving information that could lead to the arrest of the operators.
“The committee has tasked all assembly members to assist it in the fight against illegal chainsaw operators. We have asked them to be vigilant in their various electoral areas and to report on any illegal operations going on so that together we can fight it.’’
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By: Mohammed Alabira Mohammed Aminu | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
