Church Leader Advocates Privatization of Sokoban Wood Village

The Associate Pastor of Love Baptist Church under Ghana Baptist Convention in Sokoban, Rev. Evans Asante Dapaah, has suggested that the Sokoban wood village be handed over to a private entity to ensure its sustainability and proper management.

Speaking on the issue, Rev. Dapaah highlighted the challenges faced by residents and businesses in the area, citing inconsistent tax payments by traders and business owners.

According to Rev. Dapaah, the current arrangement is unsatisfactory, with traders paying taxes irregularly, often forcing the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to wait for extended periods before receiving payments.

“Today they pay tax and will wait for more than eight months for GRA to be on their nerves before they’ll even pay a small amount,” he said.

The Associate Pastor also drew attention to the poor state of infrastructure in the wood village, noting the absence of a proper drainage system and the presence of harmful waste. “There’s no drainage system and even there’s a lot of waste cabbage left over which is very harmful to us,” he added.

Rev. Dapaah believes that handing over the wood village to a private entity would ensure more efficient management and generate revenue for the local economy. The proposal is seen as a potential solution to the challenges faced by businesses and residents in the area.

The Sokoban wood village is a major hub for wood processing and trade, with numerous businesses operating in the area. However, the lack of proper infrastructure and inconsistent tax payments have raised concerns about the sustainability of the village.

The proposal by Rev. Dapaah is expected to spark discussions on the best way to manage the wood village and address the challenges faced by stakeholders.