The Chief of Akwamu Gyakiti, Nana Mamfe Otuabeng III, has pledged his support and that of the people of the Gyakiti Community for the Kete-Krachi Timber Recovery Limited, the firm with the concession for harvesting trees from the Volta Lake.
He said the operations of the KKTR were unique and that the Gyakitiman was proud to host such an enterprise with economic and social benefits not only to the Community but to the nation at large.
Nan Mamfe Otuabeng III made the assertion at a ceremony at his Palace where the Kete-Krachi Timber Recovery Limited signed the Social Responsibility Agreement (SRA) with the Gyakiti Traditional Authority with officials from the Forestry Commission and the Timber Development Authority.
He expressed his appreciation to the Management and staff of the KKTR for honoring its statutory obligations and hoped that the company will offer employment to the youth of the area. He was of the view that gesture would mark the beginning of cooperation and strengthened relations between the firm and the community.
The District Deputy Forestry Manager for Somanya, Agyapong Nyantakyi who supervised the signing ceremony, explained that the SRA is a statutory obligation in line with the Timber Resource Management Licensing Regulations, (Legislative Instrument 2254), Regulation 41 as contained in the 3rd Schedule of the Constitution of Ghana demanding from firms harvesting timber from any part of the country to pay 5% Stamping fees to the Traditional owners of such the lands.
An Advisor of KKTR, Nayon Bilijo, said the company which was originally owned by foreign investors known as the Clarke Sustainable Resources Development (CSRD) was now wholly Ghanaian owned and that it was the first of its kind in Africa.
He said KKTR/CSRD in addition to removing the dead timber from under the Lake Volta and processing it for export is also engaged in clearing the trees to provide for safe transportation and navigation on the Lake, adding to the transportation infrastructure of the country and that offcuts from the salvaged timber were used by the company to scientifically produce charcoal for export and local consumption.
Mr, Bilijo said KKTR, with funding support from the GCB Bank was late Last year inaugurated by the President of Ghana as One-Distit-One-Factory, (1D1F) for the Asuogyaman District and has employed a number of people from its area of operation in the riverine areas.
The SRA signing ceremony was witnessed by Mrs. Grace Arthur on behalf of the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive and Ophelia Boakye Mensah a Forest Ranger of the Forestry Commission, Asuogyaman.
The Operations Manager of KKTR, Ali Marnah signed for his company.
