A wide area of land located at Amangoase in Berekum had been left unattended over a long period, which has resulted to be the hideouts of drug addicts and criminals who undertake all sought of social vices.
There have been several attempts to move these deviants from the ‘base’ as it’s popularly called but to no avail.
In January this year (2019), it was reported in some media outlets that some youth abused drugs such as tramadol, Indian hemp which were bound to have severe implications on their health.
A Berekumcity.com reporter, Mr Aborroway formally reported the incident to the Bono Regional Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) Commander, Mr Shadrack Bosomtwe on how some of the youth indulge in the use of illicit drugs at the Berekum ‘base’. A report was subsequently sent to the NACOB National Headquarters for action.
The Berekum Municipal Chief Executive, Hon Kofi Adjei and the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) with support from NACOB took it up and among other things cleared the area.
Since this wasn’t the first time the assembly was collaborating to clear the base, it was subsequently decided that it needs to be used for something useful.
The assembly has thus, decided to convert the place into mini sawmills and a timber market to prevent the future invasion of these illicit drug dealers.
A couple of months after the clearing, the place has started growing weeds, so Berekumcity.com made a followup on the status of the intended project. Hon Joseph Baffour Awuah, the Presiding Member of the Berekum Municipal Assembly told Berekumcity.com reporters, the Assembly has invested a lot in the clearing of the area for the project and that they will not sit to make that investment go waste. He assured plans are far advanced to relocated several sawmills and timber dealers to the place. He pleaded with Berekuman to exercise patience and reiterated that the place will be one of the best timber sawmills and market in the Bono region in terms of design upon completion.
In an interview the PRO of the timber sawmill association and CEO of Sheshego timber sawmills, Mr Ransford Kyere said the land has been leased to them for three years. He hinted that the association has had a series of meetings with the assembly’s subcommittee on the relocation, with regards to the road map on the terms and conditions of the land.
The assembly is yet to finalize the modalities for a smooth implementation of the project.
