From Edmund Mingle, Akim Oda.
The Forestry Commission is getting tough on illegal felling of trees, as it prepares to establish a Prosecution Unit to handle offences relating to the preservation of the nation’s forests.
The unit, when operational would ensure that the cases are properly prosecuted in the Court to secure severe punishments for the offenders.
It is part of the Commission’s medium to long term strategy to effectively fight illegal felling of trees, popularly known as illegal chainsaw operations, which is a major contributing factor in the fast depletion of the country’s forest cover.
Samuel Afari Dartey, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, who disclosed the formation of the Unit to newsmen during his inspection of some plantations at Akim Oda in the Eastern region, explained that the setting up of the unit has become imperative since it would ensure that people with the requisite knowledge about forestry laws and issues handled such cases in Court.
He cited instances where offenders have been able to get away with the crimes, or handed meager fines by the Courts due to poor prosecution.
He was hopeful that the unit would start operation by the end of the year, indicating that “we are awaiting the approval from the Attorney General’s Department.”
In addition to the setting up of the Prosecution Unit, Mr. Dartey said the Commission has also been engaging the Judiciary on the need for more deterrent punishments for forestry offences.
According to him many of illegal chainsaw operators find the illegal timber business lucrative because the fines for such offences were not deterrent enough, and therefore, do not provide any disincentive.
As part of the inspection tour, Mr. Dartey, accompanied by other senior officials of the Commission, visited the Commission’s 118 hectare timber plantation at Essan Epam near Akim Oda, number of forest reserves, as well as privately owned timber plantations in the Eastern region.
He also visited a number of wood processing factors in the region where he discussed ways of maximizing the nation’s timber resources to fetch more revenue.
Andy Osei Okrah, Human Resource Director of the Commission, assured the staff of continuous support to enhance their capacity, indicating that the Commission would soon roll out comprehensive training programmes for them.
In addition, he said motors bikes have been procured for distribution to the guards to enhance their mobility in protecting the forests, while efforts were being made to improve their remuneration package.
The Forestry Commission of Ghana is responsible for the regulation of utilization of forest and wildlife resources, the conservation and management of those resources and the coordination of policies related to them.
The Commission embodies the various public bodies and agencies that implement the functions of protection, management, the regulation of forest and wildlife resources.
Ghana realised some 10.3million euros from the export of 31,663 cubic metres of wood products in June 2011, showing a decrease from the previous year’s revenue of 12.7 million euros gained from the 34,858 cubic metres of wood products.
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