Information reaching The Chronicle speaks of tension between some timber companies operating in the country and the Forestry Commission (FC), which supervises the sector, following the latter's decision to revoke all permits granted them.

The FC in March this year revoked all the permits granted to over twelve timber companies operating within the Jasikan District of the Volta Region, and other areas in the country.

In a letter dated March 3, this year, and signed by Mr. W. M. Awaregya, Jasikan Area Plantation Manager, to timber companies operating in the area, states: "I have been directed by the Executive Director to stop the operations of all contractors granted permits to harvest plantation timber within the Jasikan Plantation area. This order takes immediate effect, and supercedes that of 2nd March, 2009. Any further development will be communicated to you in due course."

Some of the affected companies are, Log Cabin Enterprise, Divine Ages Co. Ltd., Oduapong (Gh) Ltd., Gabkot Woods Enterprise, Henry Dwomoh Co. Ltd. and Royal Visage (Gh) Ltd.

The others are Revix Ltd., Fortuna Ft (Gh) Ltd., Aminexo Ltd., Jowak Ltd., George Grant Co. Ltd. and Evans Timbers Ltd.

Though this paper learnt the timber companies had paid 100% upfront of their concession fees to the FC, they have not been explicitly informed when they are to operate, let alone receive a refund of their monies to them to settle their bankers.

The country generates a lot of foreign exchange from the operations of the companies when they export their produce, in addition to levies they pay to the FC. Since March this year, this paper gathered, most of the foreign buyers have fled from Ghana to La Cote d'Ivoire, because of the new policies introduced by the FC, under the auspices of Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Natural Resources, to halt their operations. The policy has adversely affected the cashflow of the FC, a source at the FC told this paper.

The source further told The Chronicle that the FC was currently loosing 10% levies on exports, due to the decision to halt the operations of the timber firms, without any reasons assigned to the suspension of the operations.

The management of some of the companies confided in this reporter that they were contemplating taking legal actions against the government to retrieve their monies.

The timber companies have so far not been operating, and their bankers have decided to mount undue pressure on them, and are threatening to take over their equipment to offset their debts.

"We have been waiting for months now, without any communication from them. We have laid some workers off, due to the inability to operate, and we have also been under pressure from our banks," a manger of one of the timber firms said.

Attempts to reach both the sector Minister, Mr. Collins Dauda, and the Chief Executive of the FC, proved futile. The two, together with some board members, have traveled to Japan.