Sokoban Wood Sellers protest alleged extortion by Forestry Commission officials

Wood sellers at the Sokoban Wood Village in the Ashanti Region are protesting alleged extortion by officials of the Forestry Commission in the transportation of their products.

After paying ¢4,000 in export fees to acquire receipts, they are forced to pay additional fees when their wood products are transported to other regions.

Chairman of the Ghana Sawn Timbers Sellers Association at Sokoban, Adom Nyamah, says the extortion is negatively affecting their businesses, with many struggling to stay afloat.

“Initially, the export fee at the Forestry Commission was ¢1,000, but it has jumped to ¢4,000, which we are still paying.

“However, when our goods are exported to Accra, they arrest the vehicles and demand another fee of ¢10,000 to ¢15,000,” he said.

Mr. Nyamah accused the Forestry Commission of consistently impounding their vehicles to extort huge sums of money.

The officials often claim the receipts obtained for the paid fees are inaccurate.

“We acquire the receipts from the Forestry Commission, and we, the wood sellers, even print the Forestry Commission receipts,” he added.

The wood sellers are calling on the government to intervene and direct the Forestry Commission to implement a flat export fee rate.

They are also demanding the immediate removal of the Forestry Commission officials involved in the extortion.

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