Forestry Commission rebuts reports on alleged interdiction of staff over GHc623,000 revenue

The Forestry Commission has dismissed media reports claiming two of its staff were interdicted for allegedly generating GHC623,000 in revenue for the institution.

Describing the publications as “false, misleading and distorted,” the Commission said the reports sought to damage its reputation and misinform the public.

The story, which appeared in the Supreme Newspaper and on several online platforms including opr.news, newsghana.com.gh, dailyviewgh.com, peacefmonline.com, and mydailynewsonline.com, alleged that officers from the Mim Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) were sanctioned over revenue-related issues.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission clarified that the interdictions were unrelated to revenue generation but rather linked to suspected professional misconduct uncovered during timber monitoring operations.

The Commission explained that on April 17, 2025, its Chief Executive instituted a temporary freeze on the auction of confiscated lumber, wood products, and trucks used in transporting such products.

The directive—issued to curb collusion between some officers and illegal timber operators—required that all confiscated materials be kept at designated Forestry Commission offices pending further instructions.

The freeze, communicated under reference number FC/A.21/sf.4/vol.18/04, emphasised transparency in timber regulation and warned that any breach would attract severe sanctions.

Key officials, including the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Director of the Timber Validation Department, were copied.

On October 29, 2025, a checkpoint team at Techimantia intercepted a truck carrying 3,026 pieces of sawn lumber, reportedly auctioned by the Mim TIDD office.

The truck, bound for Garu in the Upper East Region, had documents claiming the lumber was valued at GHC25,000.

However, a detailed assessment revealed that the load was significantly under-invoiced. Based on the Commission’s standard rates, the true value of the lumber was GHC76,650.

Additionally, more than 800 pieces on the truck did not match the dimensions indicated on the documents.

The Forestry Commission said management determined that the inconsistencies pointed to possible professional misconduct.

As a result, the implicated officers were interdicted to make way for full investigations, in line with the Commission’s disciplinary procedures.

A six-member Committee of Inquiry, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Executive Timothy Ataboadey Awotiirim, has been established to probe the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

The Commission stressed that the interdicted officers — Felix Gatiba and Eric Boamah — were not sanctioned for generating GHC623,000, as reported.

It added that it continues to acknowledge and reward exceptional staff performance through its annual End-of-Year Staff Recognition Awards.

The statement urged the public to disregard the circulating reports and rely on verified information from the Commission.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith