At a press conference held today in Accra, AFAG claimed its investigations reveal that 2 other companies have each won a 30 billion old Ghana cedis contract for the supply of seedlings and provision of management consultancy services in this regard from the FC totalling to an overall financial loss of 90 billion old Ghana cedis to the state to the “Greening Ghana” project.
The Pressure group is therefore demanding “with immediate effect the resignation of the Board Chairman and the CEO of the FC to save the Ghanaian tax payers money from further abuse from such greedy and heartless Public officials.’
“AFAG will use every legitimate means to fight these cancerous cells in our state institutions and will make no distinction between the conspirators and those who support them. We demand also from His Excellency, The President, to set up a probe into this matter and deal with whoever may have a handling the MISUSE, ABUSE and OVERUSE of the Public Purse” the pressure group said in a statement read at the said press conference.
Below is the statement issued by the Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG)
FORESTRY COMMISSION SPONSORS MASSIVE FINANCIAL LOSS TO THE STATE
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.
The Alliance for Accountable Governance(AFAG) wishes to bring to the fore, conscious efforts, taken by the Forestry commission and 3 other companies to deprive the state of 8 million dollars invested in mass afforestation exercise commission by His Excellency John Evans Atta-Mills on 24th July 2009 at Yefri in the Kintampo South District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.
After the Global conference In Copenhagen on Global warming, The World has seen such tremendous initiatives on Afforestation and Environmental protection. It was therefore welcoming news when Government came out with the “GREENING GHANA” Project.
Subsequently, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Collins Dauda announced Government’s plans to expand the National Forest Plantation Development Programme to include areas located outside forest reserves commencing 10th September, 2009.
The Forestry Commission (FC) per their constitutional mandate (Act 269) was tasked with the oversight responsibilities of seeing to the successful implementation of this Programme.
The FC in a letter dated 27th January 2010 Sought Approval from the Hon Minister to Initiate Action on Seedling Production Contracts Which Appeared to Have Delayed.
In this regard, the FC Board On 2nd February, 2010 requested the then Hon Minister to waive the Procurement procedures to enable large Scale Producers to be contracted in raising the Seedlings.
The CEO of the FC then directed The Executive Director of the Forestry Services Division (FSD) to include In the Seedling Production Guidelines the need for groups/individual Nursery Operator Supplying Seedlings for the Programme to be recommended by the respective District Assemblies. The ED of the FSD communicated subsequently this directive to all regional managers on the 5th of February 2010.
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