Samuel Abdulai Jinapor
MINISTER FOR Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has revealed that 15 people were arrested and prosecuted for engaging in illegal harvesting of Rosewood between January 7, 2017 and January 7, 2021.
According to him, eight were arrested in Lawra in the Upper West Region, two in Navrongo in the Upper East Region, two in Bole and Buipe in the Savannah Region, two in Nkwanta and Jasikan in the Oti Region, and one in Tamale in the Northern Region.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament yesterday, the Minister said, “All 15 people were prosecuted, and those convicted were meted out with various punishments, ranging from fines to terms of imprisonment.”
He added that within the same period, a total of 576 vehicles carrying Rosewood were impounded, and pointed out that most of these vehicles were transporting the Rosewood to Accra for possible shipment out of the country.
“The owners of these trucks never showed up when the vehicles were 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 GH¢2,000 to GH¢5,000, depending on the volume of wood on the truck,” Mr. Jinapor stated.
He continued that “the wood is then confiscated to the state, sold at public auctions and the vehicles released to the drivers.”
He, however, added that since the Ministry realised that the cartels, who owned the woods were finding ways to participate 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.”
In addition to these measures, the Minister said his outfit had commenced discussions with the Office of the Attorney-General for the possible prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners as well as the confiscation of the vehicles to the state, in order to serve as a deterrent to drivers and vehicle owners.
“The issue of Rosewood is very important to the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Soon after taking office, and realising the unsustainable nature of the industry, coupled with the need to preserve our forest cover, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, imposed a ban on the harvesting and exporting of Rosewood in February, 2017,” he asserted.
BY Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House