Jacobu (Ash), Sept 18, GNA - The Amansie Central District Assembly has expressed its worry about the activities of illegal chainsaw operators whose actions were draining much of the new district's resources and revenue.

At the last meeting of the assembly at Jacobu, the issue of the illegal chainsaw operations gained prominence as most of the assembly members condemned the illegal activities and called for the mounting of security barriers at vantage points to track them. The members indicated that despite the efforts being made to check the operation, some chainsaw operators were still operating at the Watreso area.

What was more disturbing, according to the assembly members, was that the operators were using mobile phones and thereby each other on seeing any strange vehicle approaching their operational areas. Mr Kwame Asamoah-Boateng, the District Chief Executive, responding to a question, said the assembly had not permitted any chainsaw operator to carry out any activity in the district.

He said the assembly had registered some timber contractors and expressed the hope that they would assist the assembly to check the illegal activities of the chainsaw operators. Mrs Agnes Adu, the District Director of Health Services, appealed to the assembly for an office accommodation since they were finding it difficult to store logistics sent to the directorate. The DCE said efforts were being made to get the Jacobu Catholic Hospital upgraded into a district hospital. 18 Sept 06