Forestry Commission Archives

17 Jan

Breaking News: NPP Boy Bismark Owusu Asante alias Nana Yaw with Manager at Bunso Forestry checkpoint to forcefully take over despite having no contract with Forestry Commission

MAN WontumiNewsForestry Commission

NPP Boy Bismark Owusu Asante with impunity brought in his NPP thugs to take over the Forestry checkpoint at Bunso claiming ownership. This gentleman claims not even the NDC can bring him down despite his party has gone to opposition. A group of thugs allegedly affiliated with the NPP have been spotted attempting to take over the Bonsu Juncion Forestry Check Point by sacking public servants. Eyewitnesses claim that the group, numbering over twenty armed men, arrived at the centre, allegedly to seize control of the checkpoint. "He's called Bismark Owusu Asante, former contract staff with Forestry Commission…

10 Jan

Redeploy Military To Support Galamsey Fight In Forest Reserves — Forestry Commission

wontumionlineNewsForestry Commission, Galamsey

The Forestry Commission has called for the immediate redeployment of the military to help halt illegal mining and other destructive activities in forest reserves across the country. The commission said the withdrawal of the military from the fight against galamsey in forest reserves since 2022 had emboldened illegal miners to wreak havoc on forest reserves with impunity. The Executive Director of the Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the commission, Hugh Brown, who made the call, said although the internal forest guards had done their best to protect the forest reserves from destruction by illegal miners and loggers, they were constrained…

05 Dec

Forestry Commission Nabs Chief, 9 Others – For Illegal Mining

wontumionlineNewsForestry Commission, Illegal Mining

The Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) from the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Forestry Commission has arrested 10 people for illegally mining in the Manse portion of the Anhwiaso East Forest Reserve in the Western North Region. Those arrested on the dawn of November 29, included the chief of Manse, Nana Kwame Sobre II. They were arrested during a swoop at the Manse side of the Anhwiaso East Forest Reserve near Diaso in the Bibiani Forest District of the Western North Region. The RRTs also immobilised two excavators and two heavy-duty generator plants found at the illegal mining site. Suspects…

14 Nov

Mfante Killing: Mankranso Forestry Commission Office Remains Shut In Fear Of Reprisal Attacks

wontumionlineNewsForestry Commission, Mankranso, Mfante killing

Three days after two brothers were allegedly shot and killed by a Forestry Commission taskforce at a community mining site in Mfante, the divisional office of the Commission at Mankranso remains shut. The youth of Pokukrom in the Ahafo Ano South-East District and the family of the two murdered brothers have issued a four-day ultimatum, threatening retaliation if justice is not served. A saddened mother and a sister are left in excruciating pain. Wails continue to emanate from the home of Abdul Samed Razak, 35, and Hashmil Usman, 25, after the two were allegedly shot dead by a security taskforce…

18 Aug

If You Violate The Ban On Hunting Wildlife, You Will Be Prosecuted – Commission

wontumionlineNewsForestry Commission

The Forestry Commission’s Wildlife Division has placed a four-month ban on hunting, catching, and killing wild animals in the country’s forests. The yearly hunting prohibition for all wild species, except the grasscutter, which can be hunted under licence, will extend from 1 August to 1 December this year, in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Regulation, 1971 (L.I. 685). Speaking to our reporter Kwabena Manu, the Protected Area Manager of Digya National Park Atebubu Amantin Game and Wildlife Manager Mr.Eric Attah Kusi stated that the purpose is to provide relief for wild animals such as dikers, royal antelopes, and boars (bush…

11 May

Lands Minister To Answer For Exemption Of Lands Commission Surveyors From Boundary Commission Board

wontumionlineBusinessForestry Commission, Lands Minister, Natural Resources

The Ghana Boundary Commission and the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources are expected to appear before Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Forestry when parliament resumes sitting. The invitation is for the two to provide answers on the exclusion of the Surveying and Mapping Division of the Lands Commission from the governing board of the Ghana Boundary Commission. Chairperson of Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Forestry, Francis Manu-Adabor, has observed that the decision to exclude the state institution mandated to oversee land management in the country is inappropriate and insists on their inclusion. He spoke to the…

03 May

34 Forest Reserves Under Threat To Illegal Mining – Forestry Commission

wontumionlineNewsForestry Commission, John M. Allotey

Data from the Forestry Commission of Ghana has shown that thirty-four (34) of the country’s forest reserves are under threat to illegal mining, locally-known as galamsey. The Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, John M. Allotey, made this known at a press briefing on the State of Ghana’s Forest Reserves, at the Ministry of Information. According to him, the total forest cover gazetted to serve as reserves and habitats of wildlife is gradually shrinking as a result of illegal mining activities. “Seven out of the sixteen regions have been experiencing some form of illegal mining. Out of this, thirty-four reserves…

31 Jan

Forestry Commission Demobilises Excavator In Atewa Forest

wontumionlineNewsAtewa Forest, Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission has demobilized an excavator in the Atewa Forest Reserve. The excavator, as well as some other mining equipment, was discovered at the edge of the forest following reports that illegal mining activities were being undertaken in the area. The Forestry Commission officials who had discovered the site say the illegal mining activities had affected 0.6 hectares of the reserve. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made. According to an official report, there were no persons present at the site. The incidence has since been reported at the Kyebi District Police Station, and the Commission has assured it “will…

29 Aug

Forestry Commission Closes Down Accra Zoo After Lion Kills Man

wontumionlineNewsForestry Commission

The Forestry Commission has closed down the Accra Zoo on Monday, August 29. The closure comes a day after the man was allegedly attacked and killed by a lion at the Zoo. According to the Commission, the closure is to allow for investigations to be conducted into the incident. The Head of Corporate Affairs and Media Relations at the Forestry Commission, Joyce Ofori Kwafo revealed this. “A staff of the Accra Zoo was going round yesterday and noticed a lifeless body in the lion cage. He quickly drew closer to assess the situation. They quickly called in the Achimota Police…

29 Aug

Man Killed By Lion At Accra Zoo In An Alleged Attempt To Steal Cub

wontumionlineNewsAccra Zoo, Forestry Commission

A middle-aged man, believed to be in his thirties, has been killed by a lion at the Accra Zoo. According to the Forestry Commission, the intruder was spotted around the premises on Sunday at about 12 noon, after he managed to scale the zoo’s security fence. In what is suspected to be an attempt to steal a cub, the intruder, who is yet to be identified, was pounced upon by the lions and was subsequently devoured. In a statement issued by the Forestry Commission, authorities disclosed that the intruder was attacked and injured ‘within the inner fencing of the enclosure’.…