The Forestry Commission has dismissed reports claiming that two of its staff were interdicted for generating GHS623,000 in revenue for the institution, describing the publications as false, misleading and deliberately calculated to tarnish its image.

In a rejoinder, issued on 19th November 2025 by the Corporate Affairs and Media Relations Unit, in response to stories published by the Supreme Newspaper and several online platforms, including opr.news, newsghana.com.gh, dailyviewgh.com, peacefmonline.com, and mydailynewsonline.com.

According to the Commission, the content of the publications was distorted and failed to reflect the true sequence of events. It clarified that the interdiction of two officers stemmed from suspected professional misconduct, not from any revenue mobilisation effort.

The Forestry Commission explained that on 17th April 2025, its Chief Executive issued a directive imposing a temporary freeze on the auctioning of confiscated lumber and other wood products.

The directive was prompted by concerns over the alleged collusion of some officers with timber cartels engaged in the processing and movement of illegally harvested timber, often under the cover of forged or under-valued documentation.

The letter—which was copied to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, senior management and key departmental heads—ordered all confiscated wood products and trucks to be deposited at designated Forestry Commission offices.

It also placed a strict ban on auctions and the release of trucks until further notice, cautioning that any breach would attract severe sanctions.

On 29th October 2025, the National Timber Monitoring Team stationed at the Techimantia checkpoint intercepted a truck with registration number AS 3990-25.

The vehicle, loaded with 3,026 pieces of lumber, was said to have been auctioned by the Mim Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) office and was bound for Garu in the Upper East Region.

A detailed assessment revealed that the lumber had been grossly under-invoiced.

While the truck carried lumber valued at GHS76,650 based on the Commission’s standard rate, the Mim TIDD staff had issued an invoice and receipt of only GHS25,000.

Further checks showed that more than 800 pieces of the lumber had dimensions inconsistent with those listed in the accompanying documentation.

Management, after reviewing the report and supporting documents, concluded that the incident showed evidence of potential misconduct.

In line with its disciplinary policy, the Chief Executive instructed the Human Resource Directorate to interdict the officers involved to allow for an independent investigation.

A six-member Committee of Inquiry chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Executive Timothy Ataboadey Awotiirim has since begun investigations.

The Commission stressed that the officers—identified in the reports as Felix Gatiba and Eric Boamah—were not interdicted because they raised GHS623,000 for the institution.

The claim, it said, was entirely false.

The Forestry Commission assured the public that it remains committed to transparency, accountability and ethical conduct.

It also reaffirmed its recognition of diligent staff through its annual End-of-Year Staff Recognition Awards, where exemplary performance is celebrated.

The statement urged the public to disregard the misleading publications and await the outcome of the ongoing investigations.