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Impostors Who Locked Up Bekwai Forestry Commission Office Should Be Prosecuted- Lands Minister Demands
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has strongly condemned the forceful closure of the Bekwai District Office of the Forestry Commission by a group of armed men posing as National Security operatives.
In a Facebook statement issued on Monday, July 28, the minister described the incident as a “brazen and unlawful” act, urging swift arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
“These acts of lawlessness should not be allowed to fester. We must preserve public peace and the credibility of our institutions,” Buah stated. “This must serve as a strong deterrent to other unscrupulous persons who may harbour similar intentions.”
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According to eyewitness accounts, over fifteen men dressed in black and brandishing weapons stormed the Bekwai Forestry Commission office earlier that day. Claiming to be acting on “orders from above,” they locked the premises and blocked staff from accessing their workplace.
Preliminary investigations suggest the raid was retaliation for the Forestry Commission’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining within the Oda River Forest Reserve, which is overseen by the Bekwai office.
The National Security Secretariat has categorically distanced itself from the group, labelling the operation as unauthorised. In a statement, the National Security Coordinator stressed that the men involved are not recognised operatives of any state security agency and ordered their immediate arrest.
Police in Bekwai later moved in to reopen the office and escorted the suspects to the Municipal Chief Executive’s office for questioning.
The incident has reignited fears over the safety of Forestry Commission personnel involved in the fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. It also raises serious concerns about the increasing boldness of individuals who attempt to undermine environmental enforcement under the guise of state authority.
As investigations continue, the Lands Ministry and National Security have assured the public of their commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting officials working to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.
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