Rejoinder: “Shady deals at Forestry Commission as staff receive bribes into private account”

Forestry Commission’s attention has been drawn to an Article in the media, which was published on 30^th April, 2019 with above heading.

We want to inform the general public that the story is a total misrepresentation of what actually happened. After conducting thorough investigations into the matter, Forestry Commission will like to set the records straight as follows: –

1. The officer in this case, Mr Ebenezer Bekoe, is a staff of the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Commission, stationed at the Head Office near GIMPA.
2. Mr Bekoe established acquaintance with one Justice Fiagbor, a worker with a timber exporting company (Debo Gab Descendants Ventures Limited) when he was stationed at the Commission’s Checkpoint at Afienya. Through that, they became friends and the relationship continued even when Mr Ebenezer Bekoe was transferred to the Head Office.
3. Justice Fiagbor Company’s truck with registration number AS 2969 X, which was carrying banned Rosewood was arrested by Forestry Commission Monitoring Team on 12^th March, 2019 at the Nsawam Check Point and was brought to the Commission’s Depot at Achimota on 14^th March, 2019.
4. Debo Gab Descedants Ventures Limited, was subsequently asked to pay a penalty of Fifteen Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC15,000.00) on 17^th April, 2019 before their consignment will be released for shipment. Unfortunately Justice Fiagor had only Seven Thousand Cedis (GHC7,000.00) on the said date, and wanted the truck to be released before the Commision break for Easter on the same date.
5. Knowing the type of relationship Justice Fiagbor had with Ebenezer Bekoe, he requested for Mr Bekoe’s help; he asked that Ebenezer Bekoe  gives him his bank account details, so that he  (Justice Fiabgor) will inform his sister (Madam Doris Agyekum) at  Keta, who actually bought the Rosewood consignment from Debo Gab Descendants Ventures Limited, to pay Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC8,000.00) into the account for withdrawal by Mr Bekoe on behalf of Justice Fiagbor to add it to the Seven Thousand Cedis (GHC7,000.00) to enable him make payment of the Fifteen Thousand Cedis (GHC15,000.00) penalty at the Commission.
6. This, Ebenezer Bekoe gladly agreed and one Victor Quarcoopome at Keta paid the Eight Thousand Cedis (GHC8,000.00) into Ebenezer Bekoe’s account number 1361010015935 with GCB Bank, Kisseman Branch on 17^th April, 2019 (Bank Statement – Exhibit 1) from GCB Keta Branch.
7. On that same day that is, 17^th April 2019 Ebenezer Bekoe and Justice Fiagbor went to the Gulf House Branch of GCB Bank to withdraw the money, which Ebenezer Bekoe handed over to Justice Fiagbor right in the banking hall. Justice Fiagbor subsequently paid the penalty charge at the Forestry Commission Headquarters (Forestry Commission Receipt No 0311524 – Exhibit 2), after which the seized Rosewood consignment was released to him.
8. In the course of investigating this case, the Forestry Commission received a letter from Mr. Christopher Opoku Abankwah, Managing Director of Debo- Gab Descendant Ventures Ltd. In the letter addressed to the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr. Abankwah sought to protect the reputation of his company by establishing his company’s innocence in the allegation. He also stated that his company was not connected in any way with the said allegation leveled against the Forestry Commission and its officials. Mr. Abankwah therefore, directed that all enquiries about the said publication be directed to Madam Doris Agyekum, who is one of his Company’s clients. (Debo Gab Descendant Ventures Limited’s letter dated 3^rd May 2019 – Exhibit 3).
9. Furthermore, Mr. Abankwah made a report of the case at the Achimota Police Station in Accra, a copy of which is attached. (Achimota Police Report – Exhibit 4).
10. Forestry Commission called Madam Doris Agyekum on Monday 6^th May 2019 to listen to her side of the story. She vehemently denied having any knowledge about the said publication on Ghanaweb and promised to visit the office of the Commission in the company of Victor Quarcoopome before Friday 10^th May, 2019 to present a formal letter about her non–involvement in the said publication.

Madam Doris Agyekum could not make it to the Forestry Commission office as she promised but rather, sent two letters, one from herself, and the other from Victor Quarcopome, stating their innocence of the said publication. (Exhibits 5 & 6)

We will therefore like to state emphatically that the money paid into Ebenezer Bekoe’s account was not a bribe and that we will cause Justice Fiagbor, Madam Doris Agyekum and other accomplices to render an unqualified apology to the management and staff of Forestry Commission and Mr Ebenezer Bekoe for the embarrassment and harm caused him, which could have affected his career.

Forestry Commission is also ready to cooperate with the police to conduct any investigations they deem appropriate on this alleged bribery issue, so that the issue will be brought to its logical conclusion.

Issued by:

The Chief Executive

Forestry Commission