Basa Youth group accuses Omanhene of selling banned Rosewood

The Basa Youth Association has accused Omanhene of Basa in the Bono East Region, Nana Owusu Sekyi III, of selling banned Rosewood illegally to expatriates.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in March 2019 directed the Forestry Commission to ban the harvesting of Rosewood – a tree specie found in the middle belt and Northern parts of the country – in the country.
The Commission also suspended the issuance and processing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits for the export of Rosewood.
The Ministry explained that harvesting of Rosewood was illegal in any part of the country, adding that the transportation and export of Rosewood had been suspended with immediate effect.
But speaking to Kaakyire Ofori Ayim on Anika AM Drive, leader for Basa Youth Association, Samuel Antwi alleged that their Chief has defied the directive of government and has been selling the banned tree specie to expatriates.
According to Samuel Antwi, the Chief does this business behind closed doors.
He alleged further that the Chief sells the rosewood to Fulanis in exchange for cows, money and other things.
The Chief of Basa denied his involvement in the illegal sale of rosewood and other timber products in Basa.
Nana Owusu Sekyi III instead accused the crusader of the group, Samuel Antwi, of rather being involved in the illegal sale of rosewood.
He added that there was a time he had to even bail the crusader of the group, Kwaku Antwi, over the issues relating to the illegal cutting and selling of rosewood.
“I have developed Basa, and I will not go against the directives of the government and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources”, he added.
 
 
Source: Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa