Hundreds of Residents in the Sissala East area have registered their displeasure about the siting of a wood processing factory in Tumu.
The residents who call themselves the Concerned Citizens of the Sissala Land numbering about 500 took to the streets of Tumu to demonstrate against what they called an attempt to disrupt “the fragile vegetative cover” of the area.
Speaking to GBC, a Co-convener of the group, Sule Dintie Tayiru expressed deep worry about possible devastating effects of the company, Bachapong and Li Sonqunn Company Limited on the forest reserve in the area. He said the company which is located on the Tumu-Navrongo road is currently “processing rosewood in blatant disregard of the ban on all rosewood related activities by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources”.
Mr. Dintie Tayiru went on to say in a petition presented to the MCE for the area, they as the Concerned Citizens of the Sissala Land “expressed their revulsion at the circumstances which have led to the successful installation and operation of the factory.”
The Co-convener further alleged that the individual known as Bachapong is a “known notorious wood logger”. He continued to say that Bachapong is fronting for his Chinese counterparts who “are part of Chinese merchants who recently funded and facilitated the destructive harvesting of rosewood and other tree species” from the municipality.
Mr. Dintie Tayiru said “the factory is a threat to the environment which we all owe our survival and shall resist it through all possible means”. They are demanding that the wood processing factory be immediately shutdown and all equipment evacuated from the location within one week.
They are also asking the Municipal Assembly to revoke the building permit that has been granted the company “because the activities of the company are not in the interest of the people of the community”. The group is also petitioning the Environmental Protecting Agency (EPA) to revoke the permit it granted the company.
For his part, the MCE for Sissala East, Karim Nanyua disclosed that as it stands, the company is not operating. He said that the requests of the residents of the community are justified and that he would together with his advisors take necessary action against the company.
He also rubbished reports making the rounds on social media that the Municipal Assembly has signed an MOU with the company granting it unfettered access and support to begin operations in the community.
Story by Mark Smith
