The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has strongly denounced the forcible shutdown of the Bekwai District Office of the Forestry Commission by a group of armed individuals masquerading as National Security personnel.
In a Facebook post on Monday, July 28, the Minister labeled the incident as “brazen and unlawful” urging swift action to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.
“These acts of lawlessness should not be allowed to fester. We must preserve public peace and the credibility of our institutions,” he stated. “This must serve as a strong deterrent to other unscrupulous persons who may harbour similar intentions.”
His comments come in response to reports that more than fifteen men, dressed in black and armed, stormed the Bekwai Forestry Commission office earlier that day, locked the facility, and obstructed staff from carrying out their duties. The group claimed they were acting under “orders from above.”
Sources suggest the raid was a retaliatory move against the Forestry Commission’s recent crackdown on illegal mining operations within the Oda River Forest Reserve, which is overseen by the Bekwai office.
The National Security Secretariat has since distanced itself from the group. The National Security Coordinator confirmed that the operation was unauthorized and that the individuals involved are not affiliated with any official state security agency.
National Security has since ordered the arrest of the culprits, making it clear that it does not endorse such unlawful conduct.
Following the incident, the Bekwai Police stepped in to reopen the office and escorted the impersonators to the Municipal Chief Executive’s office for further interrogation.
The episode has reignited concerns about the risks faced by Forestry Commission personnel engaged in the fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
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