The Forestry Commission has addressed the ongoing media reports with regards to two staff members, following claims that they were suspended after generating Ghs623,000 for the Commission.
The Commission firmly dismissed the assertion that they were suspended after generating an impressive Ghs623,000 for the state describing the media reports as “false and misleading”.
According to a statement from the Commission dated November 19, the said staff were interdicted because they failed to adhere to the directives issued by the Chief Executive to halt issuing documentation on purportedly confiscated timber products.
“Felix Gatiba and Eric Boamah were therefore not interdicted because they generated revenue to the tune of GHC623,000 for the Commission,” portion of the statement read.
The issuance of the directive became necessary upon the revelation that certain officers of the Commission had colluded with influential figures in the timber industry to facilitate their illegal activities.
The directive further stated that all seized lumber, wood products, and vehicles transporting these items, irrespective of their source, be sent to the specified Regional, Area, and District Forestry Commission offices.
However, on October 29 the Techimantia Checkpoint which is being manned by the National Monitoring Team intercepted a truckload of sawn lumber auctioned by the Mim Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) office. Upon further investigations, it was discovered that the accompanying documents were under-invoiced.
“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.”
Additionally, a six-member Committee of Inquiry, led by Mr. Timothy Ataboadey Awotiirim, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, has been set up to examine the issue, and investigations are currently in progress.
“Subsequently, a six-member Committee of Inquiry headed by Mr. Timothy Ataboadey Awotirim, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, has been constituted and investigations are underway.”
