The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, has stated that tree stumps and timber submerged under the Volta Lake have been contracted to a company to harvest for free movement of canoes, ferry and other speed boats.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister and the Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley revealed that there is only one company contracted to harvest, process, transport and market the timber in the water body.
“As per our records, the only company that has been granted approval to harvest, process, transport and market timber submerged under the Volta Lake is the Clark Sustainable Resources Development Limited (CSRD)”, she disclosed.
Following a question by the South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamakpor, on whether any concessionaire has been granted permit to harvest timber from the Volta Lake, Mrs. Oteng-Gyasi indicated that the agreement to harvest, process, transport and market the timber and tree stumps was signed between the Government of Ghana and CSRD, a Canadian company on April 27, 2010 and was subsequently ratified by Parliament on November 30, 2010.
Mrs Oteng-Gyasi added that there is no record of any other company granted approval to harvest timber and tree stumps in the Volta Lake.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
