Forestry Commission condemns forced closure of three offices in Ashanti Region
By DL News
Published
1 min read
The incident, which took place on Monday, July 28, saw approximately 20 unidentified assailants storm the Commission’s offices in Bekwai, Nkawie, and Offinso, forcibly lock them with their own padlocks, and flee with the keys—without presen...
The Forestry Commission has expressed deep outrage over the unlawful closure of three of its district offices in the Ashanti Region by a group of armed, masked men posing as National Security personnel.
The incident, which took place on Monday, July 28, saw approximately 20 unidentified assailants storm the Commission’s offices in Bekwai, Nkawie, and Offinso, forcibly lock them with their own padlocks, and flee with the keys—without presenting any lawful authority or warrant.
In a strongly worded statement, the Commission condemned the attack as a “blatant act of intimidation” and a serious breach of public service operations and constitutional governance.
The Forestry Commission has since called for a swift, thorough, and impartial investigation into the matter, urging law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those responsible.
It is also demanding that the investigation explore any possible connection to recent clampdowns on illegal mining operations in the Oda Forest Reserve, where several arrests were made by FC task forces.
In the interim, the Commission has appealed to the Ghana Police Service to deploy uniformed officers to protect its facilities and field checkpoints throughout the Ashanti Region.
Staff across the affected offices have been assured of their safety and instructed to carry on with their duties without fear or intimidation.
Reaffirming its dedication to combating illegal mining and forest degradation, the Commission encouraged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activities near Forestry Commission installations.
