Rosewood trade continues as State official de-green Ghana in the face of Green Ghana – Dr. Apaak alleges.

The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak has bemoaned the activities of illegal rosewood trade despite efforts by the new Lands and National Resources Minister to end the criminal activity.

The legislator who has consistently campaigned against the activities of illegal rosewood trade says if the trade is not stopped, it would make the Green Ghana project a waste.

In a statement, the legislator indicated that his checks have revealed that the illegal rosewood trade was still ongoing in our ports despite claims by the government that it has stopped.

He opined that the assurance given by the government was a hoax.

He added that some state officials who are supposed to deal with the canker are rather engaging in the activity and benefiting from it financially.

“My sources tell me the manager of the terminal and the exporter tried to prevent Ghana Energy Commission officials from opening the containers by calling “big men” (corrupt, evil nation wrecker in my opinion). Present at the opening of the containers were Customs officials, Energy Commission officials, but interestingly, Forestry Commission officials, who were invited and had promised to show up, failed to be present. Are you surprised?

Simply put, the ban on illegal harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood remains a hoax. The same institutions, officials, and entities expected to enforce the ban are not only overseeing its violation, but elements therein, are profiting from the destruction of the Savanna Ecological Forest.

How can we claim to be greening Ghana when the public, government officials, and institutions are busy de-greening Ghana for personal gains?”

Read the full statement below

Illegal Harvesting, Transportation, and Export Of Rosewood Continues In The Face Of Green Ghana

Even as the new Minister for Lands and Natural Resources seems poised to lead the effort to Green Ghana, the Illegal rosewood trade continues. How can Ghana be greened when officials and institutions are directly or indirectly through their complicity de-greening Ghana?

On Friday 25th June 2021, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Abu Jinapor, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament with a team from his Ministry to answer to infractions made against his Ministry in the Auditor Generals report on MDAs for the year ending December 2017.

As would be expected, I sort permission from the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Aveje, to ask the Minister why after 5 years of a reinforced ban on the harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood, the Illegal rosewood trade continues, and whether:

a) He will consider giving effect to the recommendations by the Benito Committee report, which was in reaction to the US-based Environmental Intelligence Agency (EIA) report, which alleged official complicity and the role of ruling party officials in the illegal trade and;

b) If he will implement recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Forestry on the illegal harvesting and export of Rosewood, especially, a halt in the issuance of salvage permits.

Apparently, on the same day, as a trusted source later alerted me, developments at the Tema port confirmed that the outrageous illegal trade was rife in spite of denials by officialdom, as many already know. A number of continues at the Tema port designated for shipment suspected to contain illegal charcoal turned out to contain rosewood when opened.

My sources tell me the manager of the terminal and the exporter tried to prevent Ghana Energy Commission officials from opening the containers by calling “big men” (corrupt, evil nation wrecker in my opinion). Present at the opening of the containers were Customs officials, Energy Commission officials, but interestingly, Forestry Commission officials, who were invited and had promised to show up, failed to be present. Are you surprised?

Simply put, the ban on illegal harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood remains a hoax. The same institutions, officials, and entities expected to enforce the ban are not only overseeing its violation, but elements therein, are profiting from the destruction of the Savanna Ecological Forest.

How can we claim to be greening Ghana when the public, government officials, and institutions are busy de-greening Ghana for personal gains?

In the meantime, I’m following the development closely. As well, I’ve filed a number of questions to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on the illegal harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood.

See pictures and a short video clip of the containers containing rosewood at the Tema Port. I will keep you updated on what happens next.

I remain a Citizen!

Dr. Clement Apaak
M.P, Builsa South