The logo of the Forestry Commission
The attention of Forestry Commission has been drawn to a publication with the above headline, which has been published in the Supreme Newspaper, and on the following online platforms: opr.news; newsghana.com.gh; dailyviewgh.com; peacefmonline.com; and mydailynewsonline.com.
The Forestry Commission wishes to state that the information contained in the said articles are false, misleading and distorted, aimed at bringing the image of the Forestry Commission into disrepute and causing public disaffection.
The Commission, therefore, wishes to set the record straight as follows:
1. On April 17 2025, the Chief Executive of Forestry Commission, in a move to address widespread reported cases of collusion of some officers with some timber cartels involved in the processing and transportation of illegally harvested timber and timber products, by issuing official documentation to cover such timber products, and grossly under-invoicing same, issued a letter under the heading “TEMPORARY FREEZE ON THE AUCTION OF CONFISCATED LUMBER AND OTHER WOOD PRODUCTS” (Ref. FC/ A.21/ sf.4/ vol. 18/ 04).
2. The letter directed that “All confiscated lumber, other wood products and trucks conveying these products, regardless of origin, must be deposited at the designated Regional, Area and District Forestry Commission Offices.”
It further stated that “No auction of confiscated wood products or the release of the trucks carrying these products shall be undertaken until further notice.”
3. The letter further directed that “All Regional, Area and District Managers shall take full responsibility for the custody and secure storage of such material and trucks pending official decisions on their disposal.”
4. The directive was aimed at ensuring transparency and probity in the regulation of timber and timber products on the domestic market while clamping down on illegal logging and lumbering in our forest reserves to ensure their sustainable management.
5. The letter warned that “Any breach of this directive will attract severe sanctions.”
6. The following officials were copied:
The Minister, MLNR
The Deputy Chief Executive, FC Accra
The Director, RMSC, Kumasi
The Director, TVD, Accra
The Coordinator, National Timber Monitoring Team, Accra.
7. On October 29 2025, the Techimantia Checkpoint, managed by the National Timber Monitoring Team, intercepted a truck with registration number AS 3990-25, carrying sawn lumber which had purportedly been auctioned by the Mim TIDD office. The truck and its contents were en route to Garu in the Upper East Region.
8. A detailed check conducted on the lumber in the truck and the accompanying documents revealed that it was under-invoiced. A total of 3,026 pieces of lumber were counted in the truck, which has an official value of GH¢76,650.00, based on the Commission’s standard rate.
9. Meanwhile, the invoice and accompanying receipt were issued to cover the 3,026 pieces of lumber in the truck by the Mim TIDD staff with a face value of GH¢25,000.
10. Additionally, there were over 800 pieces of lumber out of the 3,026 pieces on the truck with dimensions different from what were indicated on the accompanying documents.
11. Management, upon receiving this report with the accompanying official documentation, determined on the face value that some professional misconduct has been committed. Therefore, in line with the Commission’s disciplinary policy, the Chief Executive directed the Human Resource director to interdict the officers involved to pave way for a full-scale investigation into the matter.
12. Subsequently, a six-member Committee of Inquiry headed by Timothy Ataboadey Awotiirim, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, has been constituted and investigations are underway.
13. Felix Gatiba and Eric Boamah were therefore not interdicted because they generated revenue to the tune of GH¢623,000 for the Commission.
14. The Forestry Commission recognises the hard work of its staff and had instituted the annual End-of-Year Staff Recognition Awards, where staff who excel in their various fields of work are recognised and rewarded.
