Paramount Chief of Sefwi-Wiawso traditional area, Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama II, has expressed his intention to ensure the arrest of any chief in his cabinet found to be engaged in illegal logging in forest reserves. He cautioned that the chiefs do not have any business engaging in the illegal act. This is in addition to the two drones he donated to the commission early this year.

According to him, he will act in the capacity of a “Forest Police” to lead in efforts aimed at protecting the forest reserves. To ensure the success of this, Okatakyie Kwasi Bumangama II has promised to support the Forestry Commission with five drones to monitor illegal activities in the forests.

The traditional leader warned his subjects to desist from indulging in activities that put the forest reserves in danger.

“If you want to venture into timber milling, then use approved means. You have no business engaging in illegal logging in the forest. Once it comes to my notice, I will arrest you.

“I will arrest any of my chiefs who is also found to be encouraging illegal chainsaw and farming in forest reserves. Call me the Forest Police”.
Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama II

Okatakyie Kwasi Bumangama II in a bid to ensure the success of his plan has called on government to set up a permanent military camp in the area to protect the forest reserves.

“I will appeal to the CEO of Forestry Commission to support my call for a taskforce or we should impress on the President to set up military camp here.

“Once they team up with police, then we can be assured of total protection of our precious forest reserves”.
Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama II

Forest Commission call for traditional leaders’ support

On his part, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, John Allotey, called for the support of traditional authorities, timber contractors and the public to sustain activities to clamp down on the illegal activities.

“The Forestry Commission has moved from the point where it is solely the responsibility of the Forest Commission to protect the forest.

“You realize that those who are closer to the resource, when you engage them and they are part of the people who help to protect the forest, you can make more progress.”
Mr John Allotey

In 2018, the Forestry Commission and the Military undertook a joint operation in the Western Region to clamp down on illegal forest activities.

Briefing the media on the operation, Mr John Allotey stated that the forest and wildlife resources in the Region were under serious threat through human activities. He explained that these activities in the forest reserves in the Region were causing serious havoc to the environment and forest resources.

Mr Allotey, during a rapid field assessment of the extent of degradation, indicated that it was discovered that about 24,398.96 hectares of intact forest had been lost to forest illegalities.

The Western North Region is endowed with 27 forest reserves, covering an area of 1, 852 kilometers.

The Forestry Commission has however noticed with concern the spate of illegal logging, farming and in some instances, illegal mining along the Ahafo-Bono-Western North corridor.

The government’s Operation Halt task force, made up of the military and forest guards, has been clamping down on such activities in the area.