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The Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku Manu, has urged all security agencies, especially the military and police, to work seriously with the aim of saving the country from complete poverty. According to him, they should put it in their minds that they are serving the nation, and for that matter, should sacrifice in their endeavours for the betterment of this country. He made this statement when he led a team to the Bosanko Forest in the Ahafo-Ano South District of the Ashanti Region, where a task force, made up of military and police personnel, has been sent to protect the forest from illegal chainsaw operators. He congratulated the team, which has been in the forest for three and half weeks, for the good work so far, and asked them to do their possible best to stop illegal chainsaw operators, in order to protect the forestry products, which would in turn boost the economy. He assured them of the government�s commitment, and asked them to carry on with the good work, since the government was spending a lot on them and their activities. Lieutenant Prince Nadir, leader of the military team, stated that the exercise had been very peaceful, and that so far no casualties had been recorded. He said even though they had not arrested any of the perpetuators, they were encountering certain problems which were hindering their operations. According to him, the vehicles they use in carrying out their operations were very old, and should be changed. He also mentioned that access to communication was also a bane to them, since there was no communications network service in their vicinity. Madam Edith Abroquah, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forestry Services Division, said that the task force had really stopped the illegal operators, and disclosed that three thousand pieces of lumber had been collected from the forestry. He advised the general public not to patronise illegal timbers products, since it was against the law. Isaac Sintim Larbi, Assistant District Manager, also congratulated the task force on their efforts at curbing illegal chainsaw operators.