Batanyaa (C/R), Oct. 26, GNA - Fifty-two employees of the FABI-BRM, a timber firm at Nyankomasi Ahenkro in the Central Region, have received long service awards from their employees.

Five senior officers received a 21-inch television set and a certificate each, while 47 junior officers were presented with wax-print, cash 300,000 cedis and a certificate each. Speaking at the function at Batanyaa near Abura Dunkwa on Wednesday, Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, cautioned recalcitrant citizens who had breached the Forestry Law, to desist from depleting the ecology, else the law would deal ruthlessly with them.

He was not happy at the rate that timber species were indiscriminately felled without replacement. Prof Fobih averred that strategic plans were being put in place to flush out chainsaw operators whose illegal activities destroyed the "green forest".

The Minister urged timber firms and other producers of raw materials to add value to them in order to attract higher premiums. He urged the recipients of the awards to work extra hard to justify the awards, while also assuring the company of the government's continued support for the timber industry.

Nana Pra Agyensam, chief of Assin Kushea and Chairman of GHACEM Foundation, urged Ghanaians to co-operate with foreign investors who find the country safe to do business.

Nana Agyensam, also a former member of the Council of State, said it was investors who could promote the private sector, described as engine of growth, to support the government's efforts at establishing more jobs for the people.

He advised both workers in government and private companies to refrain from stealing machines and equipment parts, saying: "In this way, you can sustain your workplaces, which should provide you with decent livelihood".

Mr Giorgio Pavanello, Chief Executive Officer of the company, prayed that his company should obtain reasonable concessions to enable it to operate successfully, to improve workers conditions of service. Mr Pavanello stressed that the survival of the company depended on the ability of the employees to work diligently and assiduously. They should also eschew lazy attitudes, which hampered productivity, he cautioned.

The Chief Executive advised them to endeavour to handle machines and equipment carefully and to be loyal and honest in their day-to-day operations in the company.

He said since the new management took over the company in 2004, he had to struggle for timber concessions, adding that "other difficulties include non-achievement of targets and of course the weak financial position of the company.

Mr Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of the Timber and Wood Workers Union, noted that the Union had completed negotiations on their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The General Secretary commended the Board of Directors, the new management and staff of the company for making it possible to organize the awards ceremony, which he said should spur them on to work harder. Nana Tibu Asare II, Omanhene of Assin Atandasu chaired the function. He appealed to vibrant establishments in the area, to support the community in its quest for development projects, to enhance the people's standards of living.