Forestry Commission bemoans destruction of Goase forest reserve by illegal chainsaw operators
The Forestry Commission has lamented the destruction of forest reserves within the Goaso District of the Ahafo Region by illegal chainsaw operators.
The Bosambepo, Subin, Ayum and Bonkoni Forest reserves have all been severely affected.
A joint military and police operation led by Forestry staff, led to the arrest of some illegal chainsaw operators who are currently facing trial at the Goaso Magistrate Court.
Godfred Mawutor Quashiga, the Goaso District Manager of Forestry Commission said the situation is really worrying.
“Just two weeks ago, activities of illegal chainsaw operators at night when they used candles led to a serious bush fire. Over 100 hectares of land was lost. We liaised with the military in Sunyani of which they promised to support us massively. We have done a search and arrest operation which was really successful.”
Some of the forest reserves in the country have been invaded by illegal chainsaw operators who are cutting the trees for lumber.
Most forests have been destroyed and water bodies polluted due to the situation.
Many have accused the Forestry Commission, chiefs and politicians of turning a blind eye to these developments.
National Security and the government have been called to help push the fight against the illegal chainsaw operators who are usually heavily armed.
3 soldiers injured after attack on forestry task-force at Goaso
In 2018, Police in the Brong Ahafo Region arrested 50 persons suspected to have attacked six military personnel in the Abomire forest reserve at Goaso over the weekend.
The soldiers were part of a forestry task-force against illegal lumbering.
The six officers were attacked with machetes and pepper spray when they arrived for an operation.
“They went there without knowing that these people were armed with pepper spray, cutlasses, and other offensive weapons,” the Public Relations Officer of the Brong Ahafo Police Command, Chief Inspector Augustine Kingsley Oppong, told Citi News.
Two of the military men and the driver of the task-force were injured and rushed to the Goaso Government Hospital for treatment.
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Source: citinewsroom