Timber racketeers invade Abutia Game Reserve

Armed timber racketeers believed to be coming from a neighbouring country have invaded the Kalakpa Game Reserve in Abutia in the Ho West district in the Volta Region.

They cut trees and hunt buffaloes and antelopes in the reserve with impunity.

“Unless drastic steps are taken to halt the trend, the reserve will soon become a desert,” the Paramount Chief of Abutia, Togbega Abutia Kodzo Gidi V, has said.

He disclosed this to the Daily Graphic after a tree planting exercise in the Abutia communities of Teti, Agorve, and Kloe last Sunday as part of activities for the commemoration of this year’s World Environment Day.

The Paramount Chief said some residents in the settler communities around the reserve often connived with the “timber mafia” for paltry gains, a situation he described as very dangerous and inimical to the reserve, environment and the people of Abutia.

Togbe Gidi alleged that some unscrupulous workers in the reserve also connived with the raiders who operated at night.

He urged patriotic citizens of Abutia and all stakeholders to stand firm to resist the criminal activity and report the perpetrators to the assembly, Wildlife Division and security agencies without delay.
                                   

DEC

When contacted, the Ho West District Chief Executive (DCE) Prosper Francis Dusey, confirmed the story, saying the activities of the raiders were now rampant and great cause for worry.

He said investigations by the assembly also revealed a large number of the raiders were from the North Tongu District.

For that reason, he said, the Ho West District Security Council was poised to hold an emergency meeting with the North Tongu Security Council to adopt prompt measures to address the problem.

Mr Dusey said those behind the criminal activities in the reserve would suffer swift and ruthless consequences.

He said the invaders often cut rosewood trees in the reserve, and sometimes set fire in the reserve to trap grasscutters and other animals.

“Now, many animals in the reserve are fleeing the zone to seek refuge in more serene environments,” the DCE added.

In all, about 300 trees were planted along the Abutia-Sokode road during the exercise which was carried out under the auspices of the Abutia Development Union.

Togbe Gidi said more trees, including fruit species, were expected from the Forestry Commission for planting in the area.

“We must ensure the future generations become inheritors and not just survivors,” he added.