Threats won?t scare us, Forestry Officers say

Technical officers of the Forestry Department in the Offinso District of Ashanti, say that recent threats to their lives will not deter them from hunting down illegal chainsaw operators, reports the Ghaian Times in its front page.

The paper quotes Mr Walter Gyabaah-Atuoni, the District Forestry Officer as saying "so long as they continue to carry out their illegal timber operations, we will also not relent in our efforts to track them down".

Mr Gyabaah is said to have conceded that the Forestry Officers were disturbed by the recent attempt by two chainsaw operators to murder Mr Kwabena Bissue, a Technical Officer, for challenging their illegal activities in a forest at Anhwerekrom, and veiled threats to the lives of other officers. "We would, however, not give up the fight. Giving up is a defeatist stance", he said.