Tension is brewing over the ownership of a 230-acre forest at Nanapa, near Engiresi in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region, a situation which has the potential of degenerating into violence. While a Suhum-based cosmetic producing company, Chocho Industries, which depends on tree barks and herbs for the manufacture of its products, is claiming ownership of the forest, Birim Timbers, an Akim Oda timber firm, has also indicated that the forest was in its concession. The two companies have, therefore, decided to prevent each other from operating in the forest notwithstanding the consequences. Alhaji Mustapha Boateng, Managing Director of Chocho Industries, said he bought the land from the owners, the James Manukure Kwatia Family, to serve as the raw material base of his company. He said he would, therefore, not allow Birim Timbers to fell the economic trees whose bark and leaves were used for the manufacture of the company’s products. “If I allow trees from the forest which the company depends on for the manufacture of its products to be destroyed by Birim Timbers, then the company has no future because I have to lay off the workers most of whom come from Suhum and surrounding villages. “Such a situation will also bring in its wake a lot of social problems in an area where most of the youth are unemployed so Birim Timbers should be advised to stop felling the trees for peace to prevail,” Alhaji Mustapha Boateng stated. Mr Joe Mensah, General Manager of Birim Timbers on the other hand, made it clear where the Daily Graphic contacted him at Akyem Oda that the company would not renege its claims to the forest because it had honoured every commitment on it and as such nothing would prevent the company from felling the trees. “We have honoured all commitments in respect of the trees to be felled so if we do not fell the trees, how do we also maintain our workers and keep the company going?”, Mr. Joe Mensah asked. When contacted on the issue, the Eastern Regional Manager of the Forest Service Division, Mr. Atta Owusu, said although the area fell within the Birim Timber concession, since Chocho Industries had also bought it from the Manukure Family, there was the possibility of the two companies operating there peacefully. He said this could be done because Birim Timbers only depended on matured economic trees while Chocho Industry also used herbs and tree backs. Mr. Atta Owusu, however, called for restraints to enable the Forest Commission to deal with the matter. At the Kyebi Divisional Police Headquarters, an officer also confirmed that the case had been reported there and that they were waiting for directives from above. He, however, expressed the hope that the impasse would be amicably resolved.