Kadjebi (V/R), June 19, GNA - Mr Seth Alifui, Kadjebi District Chief Executive, has advised illegal chain-sawn lumber operators in the area to consider abandoning their illegal activities or face the law. He warned truck owners of equal punitive action when such trucks are used for the haulage of illegal logs. Mr Alifui was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, after the arrest of the fourth cargo of illegal lumber with varying dimensions and sizes within a spate of one-week.

He said the plunder of the forest with impunity in addition to shrinking of the forest cover and its associated climate change effects should encourage all to help protect the forest or collectively we suffer the consequences.

"My administration would make the timber business unprofitable. They can plunder the forest in other areas but here, we shall protect the environment," he added. Mr Alifui commended Mr Vandyck Osei Owusu, Menusu-Tinjase Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for 93fighting a good fig= ht" for the environment. He urged other security services in the District to emulate his sterling example and warned that people who colluded with the illegal timbe= r 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 portion from the sale of the logs.