The Eastern Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw, Eric Kwakye Darfour has commended the Kete Krachi Timber Recovery Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian company operating the Lake Volta timber concession recovery for introducing the Diver-based system of felling trees from the Lake in addition to the use of the specially manufactured SHARC equipment.
He said the initiative to train Ghanaian Fishermen and provide them with the necessary equipment to dive into the Volta Lake to cut submerged trees is a positive initiative worthy of mentioning as it will definitely provide the opportunity for employing more young Fishermen.
He made the commendation at a Stakeholder engagement held under the auspices of the ERCC when his attention was drawn to the programme by Mr. Ali Marnah, Director of Operations of Kete Krachi Timber Recovery Limited.
Hon. Kwakye Darfour observed that resources in the Volta Lake which runs through over 1660 communities in 10 regions and over 40 Districts of the country belonged to the State and citizens abutting the Lake must be prepared to share the resources as Government directs.
The Stakeholder engagement which involved six Municipal and District Assemblies and their Chief Executives in the Afram-arm of the Volta Lake, the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council (NICFC), Headmen and Chief Fishermen in those areas and representatives of Management of KKTR, was held to strengthen the relationship between KKTR, Fishermen on the Lake and the political and administrative heads.
The President of the National Inland Canoe Fishermen Council, Mr. Jacob Tetteh Ageke said the Council was keeping an eagle eye on the operations of KKTR in order to ensure all parties adhered to agreed protocols. He also expressed the Council’s gratitude for the company’s Diver-based concept of wood recovery.
Me. Charles Oware-Tweneboah, District Chief Executive, for Fanteakwa District Assembly, on behalf of his colleague DCE’s present urged KKTR to engage is frequent and regular sensitization of the communities and especially Fishermen through the various Assemblies to ensure peaceful co-existence and harmony.
In a telephone chat, Mr. Elkin Pianim, Chief Executive of KKTR observed that ‘the progress of KKTR operations barely 13months after its inauguration as One District One Factory by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had been largely due to “the support from the 1D1F Secretariat unlike some agencies who are not enthused about giving KKTR the necessary cooperation’’.
The construction of the Akosombo Dam in 1964 submerged vast forest tracts with hardwood timber and tree stumps for which KKTTR has the concession to salvage to make the Volta Lake safe for transportation as well as improving Ghana’s Balance of payment among others.
