<<Print>>

INFORMATION REACHING DAILY GUIDE indicates that the Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai District Manager of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission in the Western region, Gabriel Agana was allegedly assaulted by some youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) purported to be involved in illegal chain-saw operations in the area. Explaining how the incident happened, a reliable source at the district FSD told the paper that on July 14, at about 5pm, a forestry task force comprising military personnel and some forestry officials in the area were on their usual monitoring operation when came across some sawn lumber gathered at a location in Bekwai. Members of the task force who believed the timber was carried to the location by illegal chain-saw operators then decided to convey them to the FSD District office located opposite the Bibiani District Assembly block. The source continued that when the group started gathering up the wood into a vehicle, some known NDC youth activists in the area rushed to the place and tried to prevent them from doing so. The military men among them were however able to overpower the youth and carry the sawn lumbers to the district FSD office in Bibiani, the source added. The following day around about 8:00am, some youth numbering about fifty, believed to be NDC activists, went to the Bibiani District Assembly to complain to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Adanse Bonah about the seizure of the sawn lumbers by the task force. The DCE was reported to have told them to be patient and that he would contact the FSD office to see what could be done about the case. Unsatisfied with this response, the youth subsequently rushed to the office of Mr. Agana, the FSD District Manager and demanded the release of the seized wood. The source explained that Mr. Agana who suspected the youth might have cut the wood from the forest illegally, refused to heed to their demands. Two of them allegedly rushed on the district FSD boss and subjected him to severe beatings. When contacted, Mr. Agana confirmed the attack on him by NDC youth from Bekwai saying he has severe pains in his chest as a result of the attack. The district FSD boss indicated that but for the timely intervention of the military, the situation would have been worse. He explained that he was about to leave his office, when he met the youth who asked him to release the wood to them but he refused knowing they were illegally obtained from the forest. Mr. Agana noted that the case had been reported to police in Bibiani but when the paper contacted Supt. Francis Enor, the District Police Commander, he said it was rather one of the youth who went to report that his vehicle had been surrounded by the military at the forecourt of the FSD office. Supt. Enor added that later, Mr. Agana also went to the police station and reported that he had been assaulted by the youth. Meanwhile, Lydia Opoku, Western Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission has told DAILY GUIDE that she would make an official complaint to the Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo who is also head of the Regional Security Council and later to her boss in Accra for the law to take its course. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi