Akyem Oda (E/R), May 26, GNA - The Ghana Timber Association (GTA) has embarked on an extensive education drive in communities, especially among farmers on the need to preserve the forests.

Mr Alex Dadzie, National First Vice-President of the GTA, who announced this at the Eastern Regional Executive elections held at Akyem Oda on Friday said the programme was part of measures being taken by the Association to help sustain the forests.

He said the GTA had realised that apart from forest depleting being caused by illegal chainsaw operations, activities of logging, charcoal burning, new settlements and farmers also contributed greatly towards deforestation.

Mr Dadzie said the Association had embarked on a forestation project at Bunfoum in the Ashanti Region and had also tasked all regions to acquire land towards such projects.

He appealed to members to take the forestation programmes seriously to enable them to be in business at all times. In the election, Mr E Y Kissi Chairman, Mr Alex Darko Vice-Chairman and Mr Ebenezer Debrah, Treasurer were all elected unopposed for a four year term of office.

On behalf of the executives Mr Kissi thanked the members for the confidence reposed in them and gave the assurance that they would live up to expectation.

He said the major preoccupation of the executive would be to equip all district officers with computers to facilitate correspondence.