We were told it was an ‘order from above’ – Ama Mawusi on attack on Forestry Commission offices [Listen]

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says preliminary information suggests that the recent attacks on three Forestry Commission offices in the Ashanti Region were carried out on “orders from above.”

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Director of Communications, Ama Mawusi, revealed that intelligence gathered so far points to directives from unidentified higher authorities.

“The information we have gathered suggests that there was an order from above to lock up the offices,” she disclosed. “We don’t know where that order came from, but that is what we have picked up.”

The attacks, which occurred on Monday, saw heavily armed and masked men storm the Forestry Commission’s district offices in Bekwai, Nkawie, and Offinso, forcibly locking the premises and preventing staff from working.

According to Ms. Mawusi, the Ministry and its agencies—including the Forestry Commission, Minerals Commission, Lands Commission, and Boundary Commission—remain committed to their mandate despite such acts of intimidation.

“All of the agencies under the Ministry are committed to the work we are doing. It is out in the public, and everyone can see,” she emphasised.

She confirmed that the Ghana Police Service has launched investigations into the incident.

“With the investigation going on, we have tasked the security agencies to keep an eye on the ground. We are waiting for the outcome to decide the next line of action,” she added.

According to reports, over 15 armed men dressed in black and posing as National Security operatives stormed the Bekwai Forestry Commission office earlier in the day, locked up the premises, and prevented staff from working.

Sources suggest the raid was in retaliation for the Commission’s recent crackdown on illegal mining activities in the Oda River Forest Reserve under the Bekwai jurisdiction.

The National Security Secretariat has since distanced itself from the group, stressing that the operation was unauthorised and that the men were not recognised state operatives.

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