Kadjebi, June 15, GNA - Mr Seth Alifui, Kadjebi District Chief Executive, has said that illegal chain-saw lumber operators in the area should consider abandoning their activities or face the law. He warned truck owners of huge penalties, when such trucks for the haulage of illegal logs were arrested.

Mr Alifui was speaking to the Ghana News Agency after the arrest of cargoes of illegal lumber leaving the jurisdiction. He said the plunder of the forest with impunity in addition to the shrinking of the forest cover should encourage all to take the appropriate action to prevent the loss of the forest cover or collectively we will suffer the consequences.

He said: "My administration would make the timber business unprofitable. They can plunder the forest in other areas but here, we shall protect the environment."

He appealed to other security services in the District to emulate his example and warned that people who colluded with the illegal timber operators would equally face the law.

Mr Alifui said the Assembly realized GH¢ 3,000 from the auction of seized lumber recently and reminded informants of their guaranteed proceeds from the sale.