Sunyani, (B/A) April 1, GNA - Teak millers in the Brong-Ahafo Region have appealed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure the speedy decentralization of the Forestry Commission to boost their economic activities.

The group noted that by so doing regional managers of the Commission could rapidly process applications for teak harvesting and permits for cultivation.

Mr. Kofi Vinyo, the spokesperson, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, that processing of documents for the issuance of private permits for teak plantation and the inspection for conveyance was to be done at the regional level.

"However, we have to wait for more than three to four months before our documents are approved in Accra," he noted with regret. Mr. Vinyo, who is the Managing Director of Kofi Vinyo and Company Limited, alleged that the local industry was gradually collapsing alleging that the Commission was granting concessions to expatriates in the teak industry to the detriment of local millers. He said the teak millers had to spend a lot on travelling regularly to Accra to ensure that their documents were approved on schedule because some of the felled trees decay rapidly, especially in the rainy season. Mr. Vinyo gave the assurance that the local millers would continue to adhere to the rules and regulations governing Forestry Management and also protect forest reserves.

Mr. Nuhu Salifu, a teak farmer, told the GNA that the delay in giving approval to the teak millers also affect the farmers because the local millers purchase their produce. "Due to this problem some of the farmers have decided to stop the teak plantation because it is very pathetic that the local millers who serve as ready market for our produce are gradually going out of business," he stated. 01 April 10