ASD LUMBER TAKES OVER WVLC (Page 22)

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi

ASD Lumber Ghana Company has physically taken over the possession of the Western Veneer and Lumber Company (WVLC) in Takoradi.
The new company was granted the right of entry to the WVLC after going through the necessary procedures, including the payment of 20 per cent of the amount.
The Head of Public Affairs of ASD Lumber Ghana Limited, Mr William Newman, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the company was granted the right of entry on October 16, 2007, but had to wait as a result of the payment of the workers end of service benefit.
“We decided to exercise restraint to allow the government to sort out the end of service benefit”, he said.
According to Mr Newman, the ASD Ghana Limited was going to employ about 99.9 per cent of the workers since they were already conversant with the handling of the machines and equipment.
“We will employ about 1,500 people within 12 months of operation and thereafter”, he said.
“Also what we will pay them will be far better than what they were receiving”, he added, saying “we have taken over and will use about a week to rehabilitate the place”.
Mr Newman said the new management entered the WVLC peacefully without any problem.
Hopefully, he said by January 3, 2008 the company would start production.