Forestry Commission Seizes 21 Trucks Loaded With Lumber In Bono Region

The Forestry Commission (FC) has impounded 21 trucks loaded with illegal lumber in the Bono Region.

Briefing the media, the Bono regional manager of the Forestry Commission, Augustine Gyedu, warned illegal chainsaw operators to seek permits as required by law before they can operate.

Gyedu said 11 of the 21 impounded trucks do not have the required permits, while the remaining 10 have issues.

He said the 21 impounded trucks face fines ranging from GHC1, 500 to GHC5, 000.

“Some don’t have papers at all. Eleven of them don’t have papers at all and ten of them have papers but there were issues.”

“Sometimes either the quantity of lumber in the truck is more than what’s on the paper or the species are different from what’s in the truck; that’s why they have been impounded. We will fine the trucks for conveying the illegal root,” said Gyedu.

Gyedu again warned illegal chainsaw operators to desist from operating in the forest.

“Those illegal operators; we are sounding a word of caution to them, that they should desist from going into the forest.”

“If they want to do forestry business, they should come to our office, secure their permit and go and work legally. So that they pay the appropriate taxes to the state. If you don’t do that and are caught next time we would take them to court and deal with them individually,” Gyedu said.

The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, reiterated the message of zero tolerance for illegal activities within the sector.

Phase one of the exercise by the Forestry Commission was to clamp down on illegal chainsaw operators and bring sanity to the sector in the Bono Region.

 

 

 

The National Sports Authority and the Bono Regional Coordinating Council are the two state institutions that will receive some of the lumber sold at auction by the Forestry Commission.

 

 

 

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