The Forestry Commission has refuted claims that it issued contracts to 107 individuals within Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) across Ghana.
The clarification comes after the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources earlier this year directed the Commission to revoke the contracts, citing alleged lapses in due diligence during the awarding process.
However, the Forestry Commission maintains that no such contracts have been approved in protected biodiversity zones, emphasising that these areas remain fully safeguarded under national environmental laws.
Speaking to Citi News, Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, clarified that 11 companies were granted timber utilisation contracts by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry in 2023 and 2024, and that the Forestry Commission does not have the mandate to issue such licenses.
Dr. Brown assured the public of the Commission’s commitment to sustainable forest management and the protection of biodiversity, adding that any unauthorised activities within protected areas would be addressed in accordance with the law.