Ministry sets up probe into Bomfobiri sanctuary

Mrs. Esther Obeng Dapaah is Ghana's Minister of Lands Forestry and Mines

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday November 20, 2007
THE Ministry of Lands Forestry and Mines on Friday inaugurated a committee to investigate an alleged illegal teak harvesting in Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary near Kumawu in the Ashanti Region.

The five-member committee has six weeks to submit its report to the sector Minister, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah.

The committee has been tasked to determine the circumstances under which teak harvesting rights in Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary was awarded also determine the effects of resource extraction in the sanctuary and how this impacted on sustainable forest management and environmental quality.

In addition, committee will find if any harvesting rights have been granted in any protected area ie hill sanctuary, Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA) or any of the Wildlife Protected Areas (WPA’s) of the Sanctuary.

Inaugurating the committee at a short ceremony in Accra on Friday. Mrs Dapaah said “since news broke out that illegal teak harvesting was taking place in the sanctuary, stakeholders including some land owners have denied any illegality and you as experts will have to investigate to come out with the truth.”

She said after the committee submitted its recommendations, the ministry will take the necessary action to protect the sanctuary from further degradation.

Later in a interview the Minister expressed concern about the rate of degradation of the country’s forest.

“Our entire environment is at risk and we will work hard to protect it,” she added.