Member of Parliament for Builsa, Dr. Clement Apaak says that criminals who are still engaging in the illegal rosewood trade are doing so because they can easily flee when apprehended.
The MP who had consistently campaigning against rosewood trade said it is for this reason why the ban and so-called reinforced bans, including a recent total ban of export of rosewood, the illegal logging and transportation and export is still continuing.
He was reacting to the impounding of 240 footer container trucks with registration number GN 411-14 loaded with rosewood at Diare in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region by the Savelugu Municipal Police Command.
The Northern Regional Crime Officer, Supt. Bernard Baba Ananga, who confirmed the incident said the truck was impounded on August 12, 2021, by a patrol team at the Savelugu checkpoint.
The driver however bolted after the patrol team established that the truck contained rosewood.
It was also established that the woods were harvested around Yagaba Kubori in the North East Region and was being transported to Accra for export.
The case has since been handed over to the forestry commission for further investigations.
He said Ghanaians are still waiting for the outcome of the recent containers that were impounded at the Tema Port and the prosecution of those involved.
He challenged the Lands and Natural Resources Minister to take action against the illegal rosewood activities because his reputation was on the line.
“The current Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, must show that it’s not business as usual. His reputation is on the line. If Ghanaians don’t see arrests and prosecutions of those breaking the law by harvesting, transporting and exporting or attempting to export rosewood, then it would be clear the official complicity is to blame.”
Source: myghanadaily
