Samartex Timber and Plywood faces operational threats from illegal mining

Samartex Timber and Plywood Company Limited is reporting significant disruptions to its core operations due to the expansion of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey. The company states that unregulated mining activities are encroaching on its concessions, leading to the destruction of hundreds of commercially valuable tree species before they can be harvested.

Beyond timber loss, the company’s water infrastructure has been severely compromised. Pollution of the Tano River has made water treatment costs for industrial and community use prohibitively expensive, forcing the company to invest heavily in sinking boreholes. Additionally, the environmental degradation has led to the suspension of a multi-million cedi ecotourism project centered on the river.

The company, which employs over 2,000 people in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality, warns that these activities are undermining long-term harvesting plans and local livelihoods.