16 Vehicles Impounded For Illegal Transport of Lumber As Goasomanhene Expresses Grieve Concern Over Alarming Rate of Deforestation

According to the traditional ruler, the rampant felling of timber has caused a near-total depletion of the once thick forests within the Ahafo enclave.

He said the alarming rate of deforestation has resulted in a change in the climatic conditions within the area causing unstable and harsh weather conditions.

Nana Bosomprah also lamented the strong involvement of Burkinabes in the illegal transport of lumber.

In order to fully understand matters, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah has put together a task force to investigate and clamp down on persons engaged in the illegal timber business.

Meanwhile, he has called on the government to as a matter of urgency institute measures that can help protect forest reserves.

Here is the chief, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah speaking to Soireenews.

Emmanuel Kojo Fosu is the leader of some concerned citizens. With strong backing from the chief, he and his friends embarked on a special operation to ascertain first-hand information on the modus operandi of timber merchants within the area.

In a special operation, the task force has impounded a total of 16 vehicles.

Some of the vehicles had no documents covering the lumber load they were carrying. Others also had expired documents whilst others did not have all the required documents for lumber transporting from the Forestry Commission.

Kojo Fosu has been speaking to the media on the motivation behind his involvement to help fight the illegal operators.

He wants the government to keep a special eye on the Timber Industry Development Division of the Forestry Commission as he believes that, some personnel of the outfit are behind the smuggling activities of lumber business operators.

 The Goaso-Sunyani-Techiman highway has become the most used route for most transporters of lumber.

On this route, trucks illegally transport wood to neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso.

It is revealed upon interrogation of drivers by Kojo and his team that, most of the vehicles are transporting woods without appropriate and accurate documentation.

Even though it is a requirement for transporters of wood to have all necessary documents at the point of loading, some of these trucks have travelled several kilometres without a single document. 

Others also have documents expired in 2021 covering the lumber they were transporting.

The team, therefore, orders these drivers to discontinue the journey as they present the documents to the Forestry Commission for further checks.

Mr Joel Asante(not his real name) has in previous times worked extensively with the forestry commission as a commander at a checkpoint, he reveals to the media how personnel of the Timber Industry Development Divisions within the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Western North regions in collaboration with merchants are shortchanging the Ghanaian government.

After a brief check of the documents, he confirms that most of the documents are invalid.

He also accuses the Forest Service Division(FSD) of the Forestry Commission for the wanton degradation of the forests. According to him, personnel of the division mandated to protect the forests have abandoned their posts and rather joined the TIDD personnel as they connive with those engaged in the lumber business in their illegalities, denying the state several millions of cedis.

For now, the task force has presented details of drivers, their vehicles and documents to the Forestry Commission, hoping that the anomalies will be corrected and also having those involved in this illegal trade denying the state of a huge revenue are been brought to face the law as well as the forests been adequately protected.

Story By Kwaku Donkoh.