SAMARTEX HONOURED BY AMSCO (Page 23. Sat. Dec 1, 2007)

Story: Kwame Asiedu marfo, Samreboi

THE Samreboi Timber and Plywood Company Limited (SAMARTEX), a timber processing company at Samreboi in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the Western Region, has paid GH¢34,765 as premium and other registration expenses for its 2,500 employees and dependants to the Amenfiman Mutual Health Insurance Scheme this year.
The company has been paying premium for the workers since the scheme started.
Besides, the company, has since 2004, spent GH¢157,526.58, representing five per cent stumpage fees paid into a social responsibility agreement (SRA) accounts for the development of communities in its operational area.
It has also completed an electrification project at Yakese costing GH¢10,686 and is constructing a community centre costing GH¢54,181 in the town. The company has so far spent GH¢10,836 on the project.
SAMARTEX has also provided a mechanised borehole for the people of Abochia at a cost of GH¢17,658. Besides, it is constructing a library and a computer laboratory costing GH¢19,750 at Nyankoman, out of which GH¢16,600 has been spent.
The Human Resource Manager of SAMARTEX, Mr Peter Damuah, announced this at a day’s workshop on forest protection strategies for forest and concession guards at the Enchi, Asankrangwa and Sefwi Wiawso forest districts at Samreboi.
He explained that the company provided the projects as a result of the continued existence of concessions where it harvested timber.
Mr Damuah stated that the company spent GH¢200,000 on road maintenance annually.
According to the human resource manager, the company was not connected to the national electricity grid but relied on its own generated electricity.
He said electricity and filtered or treated water were supplied free of charge to the Samreboi community.
Mr Damuah added that the company was sinking 10 hand-dug wells valued at GH¢20,000 for the Samreboi and Tigarikrom communities.
He said the company was managing a kindergarten and junior high school complex with 1,090 pupils, adding that the pupils, whether they were wards of employees or not, did not pay fees.
According to Mr Damuah, the company was constructing a new teachers’ quarters at an estimated cost of GH¢30,000.
He said all the 42 teachers in the school had been provided free accommodation by the company, which also offered scholarships for the wards of both employees and non-employees who excelled in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
Mr Damuah said the company had since 2003 contributed GH¢11,200 to the Wassa Amenfi Education Endowment Fund.
The human resource manager stated that besides wood processing, SARMATEX was also involved in the regeneration of the natural resources at its disposal through the establishment of plantation and agro-forestry schemes.
“Our employees are encouraged to play an active role in community affairs,” he added.
The acting Director of Operations of the Forest Services Division, Mr Alexander Amoako-Buadu, said the forest and concession guards were the front-line staff in the forest management and that the guards were to protect the forest from any encroachment.
The Western Regional Manager of the Forest Services Division, Mr Kwakye Ameyaw, stressed the need for the sustainable management of the country’s forests for future generations.
He said the forests were very important for the survival of the people so they should not joke with it.
“If we are not careful and the forests are destroyed, the timber industry will collapse and its workers will suffer,” he stressed.
Mr Ameyaw stated that the workshop would raise the confidence of the forest and concession guards to enable them to protect the forests well.
The Asankrangwa District Manager of the Forest Services Division, Mr Kenneth Nimoh-Amoah, noted with regret that many forests in the country had been reduced to grasslands.
Mr Nimoh-Amoah said the forest policy was to ensure sustainable management of the forests, since people had different interests in the forests.