The Obuasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mark Tairima Diboro on Friday, February 28, sentenced four persons to two years imprisonment each with hard labour for illegal logging.
They are Mathew Tetteh aka Osofo, 36; Isaac Kwadwo Tamatey, 42, a chainsaw operator; Kumah Gabriel Snr, 28, labourer; and Ebenezer Coffie, 21, also a chainsaw operator.
On December 18, 2024, they invaded the Ayamankata portion of the Nkrabea forest reserve and fell one danta and two Wawa trees valued GH₵16,614.65.
They cut the timber into 24 beams and 87 double boards without the written consent or authority of a competent officer of the forest reserve division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana.
According to the judge, the accused persons were charged with the offence of felling timber in a forest reserve without lawful authority.
They pleaded guilty to the offence and were accordingly convicted but pleaded for mercy and mitigation of sentence.
Delivering the sentence, the judge expressed concerns our the destruction of the forest reserve by illegal lumbers and miners.
He called for a concerted effort at reducing the menace, emphasising that officers and traditional leaders must have oversight responsibilities..
The Nkrabea forest reserve covers an impressive area of 8,086 hectares but currently, about 2,144 hectares have been encroached.
The judge issued a strong warning to all illegal miners and chainsaw operators who still sneak into the forest reserves to destroy the vegetation to advise themselves and stay off.
He explained that the Obuasi circuit court will not temper justice with mercy when they are brought before him.
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