by Alfred Adams
Communities, within a distance of 5 kilometres in the operational areas of Samartex Ghana Limited, a timber processing company, are to benefit from the company’s social responsibility to society.
This was discussed at a forum organised by the Forestry Services Commission, which hosted beneficiaries from the fringe communities, Samartex Ghana Limited and the Aowin District Assembly.
The fringe communities are Yakasi, Apugya, Jomoro, Asantekrom, Abuchia amd Nyankanum.
Delivering a speech at the forum, the District Manager for the Forestry Services Commission in the Aowin and Suaman districts, Mr. Lawrence Fosu, said the government, and for that matter the Commission, value most communities close to our forests, because they were the watchdogs of the forests.
It was, therefore, prudent that these communities benefit directly and indirectly, especially, from timber firms operating in the district.
It was upon this that, according to the FSC District Manager, these timber firms pay royalties to the government, traditional authorities and the District Assembly.
Mr. Fosu commended Samartex for always being eager to assist the communities, especially in the area which it ias operating.
He, however, cautioned the fringe communities to continue to play their watchdog role, and report those engaged in illegal chainsaw operations, in order to protect the forest reserve.
He also cautioned that the communities also desist from turning the forest reserves into cocoa farms.
Mr. Fosu used the occasion to educate the public on the roles and regulations guiding our forests.
On his part, Mr. K.K.F. Ghartey, a Forestry Consultant for Samartex Ghana Limited, said the company was always ready to help the communities in its area of operation.
He pointed out that “Samartex Ghana Limited does not deal with an individual or a community, but the traditional authorities, district assembly and government. We are poised to bringing development to the communities where we operate.”
Nana Adu Kwaw III, Chief of Nyankamum, said he was enthused about the forum, and expressed the hope that the agreement reached would go a long way to better the lives of communities in the company’s operational areas.