The leadership of Private Afforestation Developers Organization (PADO) has frowned on government’s decision to import Chilean Pan product into the country at the expense of our local teak tree products.
They bewailed the move and described it as a black-hearted attempt by the government of Ghana to discourage Ghanaians from taking up farming as a serious business.
PADO is made up of Ghanaian local investors who are concentrating on Teak Tree Plantation in the country. This was disclosed by the President of PADO Mr. George Asamoah Amankwa.
The Government took a keen interest in the teak tree plantation thereby releasing all degradable forest zones in the country to interested parties to venture into teak trees plantation by way of restoring the degradable forest zones.
For decades, the government of Ghana has been using teak trees for both urban and rural electrifications and the demand for the products far exceeds supply, so some Ghanaian investors took advantage of it by venturing into large scale production.
This has been supportive and it remains the best for the country’s electrification projects, but it appears the government is opting out for imported light poles from Chile and South Africa.
PADO feels apprehensive about this new twist, saying, the government is slowly kicking them out of operations with its recent decision to import Chile Pan products.
According to the president of the Association, Mr George Asamoah Amankwa, he has been given a permit to cut down his teak trees for the market but almost one and a half years, he has not been able to cut down due to the lackadaisical attitude of the district forest officer.
He said his teak plantation was started in 2004 and is ready for the market, but, the forest officer at Offinso District has not given them clearance to cut-down, despite the clearance from the forestry commission.
Speaking on Oyerepa 100.7 FM breakfast show on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, he disclosed that about 5,700 hectares of teak plantation have been left in the bush, while others are cutting theirs for charcoal production.
Speaking on the sidelines of the importation of the Pan from Chile and South Africa, he said, the move by the association to halt it has proven futile.
Here are Excerpts from PADO Chairman
