Lands Ministry To Handover Containers Of Rosewood Impounded To NIB

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will today, Tuesday, hand over the impounded 13 containers of the rosewood to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). The Ministry impounded the rosewood in collaboration with the National Security and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA. The 13 containers, six

of which have been confirmed to be carrying rosewood were impounded at the Tema Port on Friday, August 27, 2021. Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister in Charge of Forestry, Benito Owusu, said investigations are ongoing. According to him, the Ministry will ensure that those involved are prosecuted. Those involved in

the acts paid duties on the containers and we have the evidence so they cannot hide now. We have passed on all those evidence to the NIB for them to continue with the investigations, but we as a Ministry will also follow up to also ensure that they are prosecuted. Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio then also used the opportunity to restate the

government’s zero-tolerance policy on rosewood. He served a reminder that trade in rosewood be it import or export is banned in the country and that persons who are caught to have acted in contravention of the law will face the full rigours of the law. He also warned that the clampdown continues unabated and that any person or

organization found to be dealing in it will not be spared. The government under the auspices of the Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor is cracking down on illegal rosewood trade, he said. In June this year, 7 tracks ferrying rosewood were impounded by a highly efficient and motivated taskforce, he added