Employees of Supremo Wood Processing Limited at Bediakokrom, near Mim, in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo region, have protested against invasion of the company’s legally acquired concessions by illegal chainsaw operators without restraint.
The company, established in 2017, has acquired 50 compartments from the Forestry Commission and engaged over 600 workforce to process plywood, sawmill and furniture.
The compartments are spread over Bechem, Goaso, Dormaa and Juaboso. Unfortunately, about 14 of its compartments in the Bia Tano Forest and the Mpameso Forest Reserves are constantly being encroached upon by armed illegal chainsaw operators with impunity.
Not even the company’s security unit and forest guards can ward off the invasion of the concessions.
The local police have not been helpful to prevent the incursions of the illegal chainsaw operators, who are always armed to the teeth.
About five security personnel of Supremo suffered casualties last February 29, 2024 when they were shot and hospitalised following a clash with armed chainsaw operators.
As usual, no arrests have since been made, even though a complaint was lodged with the police command in the area.
The workers, demonstrating against the development on Tuesday displayed placards, some of which read; “Forestry Commission Wake Up”, “Supremo is under threat”, “We need military support” and “Our future is at stake”.
The workers complained that their livelihood is under threat because management has threatened to fold up in the event that the company does not get any form of protection from the government and major industry players.
The workers said their investigations had revealed that a certain Malik from Sankore and one Dickson are behind the encroachment and depletion of the forest resources on Supremo’s concessions in the area.
According to them, timber logs felled illegally by the chainsaw operators head to a particular sawmill at Gambia No. 1 in the area.
They (employees) say they would resist any further attempts by the illegal chainsaw operators by protecting the company’s concession at the peril of their lives.
The General Manager of the company, Mr. Francis Asare, confirmed the fears of the workers when he said the survival of the company and livelihood of the over 600 workers and their dependents are under threat.
He appealed to the Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC), headquartered at Goaso, the Regional capital, to swiftly take immediate steps to nib the activities of the illegal operators in the bud before investors are put off.
Mr. James Afriyie, the company’s Forest Manager, said the worse situation is that these illegal chainsaw operators are also laying claim to the concessions and have the effrontery to ask the security personnel of Supremo Wood Processing to produce documents of ownership or mind their business.
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