News:
Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor
March 3, 2022
A total of fifteen (15) people were arrested and prosecuted for engaging in illegal harvesting of Rosewood since from January 7, 2017, to January 7, 2021 following the Ministry’s ban on the harvesting and exporting of Rosewood in February, 2017 to help preserve the forest cover.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Abu Jinapor who was responding to a question by Dr. Clement A. Apaak, Member of Parliament for Builsa South who wanted to know if any person and/or company has been arrested and prosecuted for engaging in the harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood from January 7, 2017 to January 7, 2021, and if any equipment and/or vehicle/truck used were impounded in light of the ban on harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood, said the number is made up of eight (8) people from Lawra in the Upper West Region, two (2) people arrested in Navrongo in the Upper East Region, two (2) people arrested in Bole and Buipe in the Savannah Region, two (2) people arrested in Nkwanta and Jasikan in the Oti Region, and one (1) person arrested in Tamale in the Northern Region.
“All fifteen people were prosecuted, and those convicted were meted out with various punishments, ranging from fines to terms of imprisonment”, he stated.
According to him, between that same period, a total of Five Hundred and Seventy-Six (576) vehicles carrying Rosewood were impounded. Most of these vehicles were transporting the Rosewood to Accra for possible shipment out of the country. The owners of these trucks never show up when the vehicles are impounded. The vehicles are usually detained for over four months, and if no owner shows up, the drivers are made to pay fines ranging from Two Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS2,000) to Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHSS5,000), depending on the volume of wood on the truck. The wood is then confiscated to the State, sold at public auctions and the vehicles released to the drivers.
“Let me, however, add, Mr. Speaker, that since we realised that the cartels who owned these woods found ways of participating in the auction to buy and export them, we have ceased auctioning confiscated Rosewood. All Rosewood confiscated will be donated to the National Cathedral Project”.
He also revealed that in addition to these measures, to serve as further deterrent to drivers and vehicle owners who allow their vehicles to be used for the illegal business, they have commenced discussions with the Office of the Attorney-General for the possible prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners, and the confiscation of the vehicles to the State.
Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate, if I have not repeatedly done it enough, that our management of the natural resources of our country, particularly, as it relates to Rosewood, will continue to be in accordance with the highest standards of transparency, integrity and candour”.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com