A fresh attempt has been made to pick seized excavators from the Forestry Commission Depot in the Ashanti Region last Thursday dawn.
A week ago, the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi ordered for release of the five excavators to the Assembly for demolition of buildings affected by the Blue Light Arena inferno.
But the move was blocked by the commission after a confrontation and media involvement.
The persons who made the second attempt insisted to have received authorisation from the leadership of the commission to take back the machinery.
Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Mr. Clement Omari explains the people mentioned him and others as authorising the release.
“I had a call from my security personnel at the Depot that some people are asking the security to allow them pick excavators away claiming the big men and the Regional Manager have authorised it”, he said.
It took the Regional Manager to refute the claim for the security officers to deny the people access.
Unfortunately, the security officers at the depot were unable to make an arrest.
Mr. Omari insists, “our security there are not armed. When they came a week ago, they were armed. If those who came at dawn are armed, how do our men arrest them?”
The Forestry Commission intends to beef up security in the area with the police.
According to the Regional Manager, this has become a worrying situation.
“You wouldn’t know the day they will come in groups to attack our security personnel at the gate and take all seized items and personal items there,” he added.
A week ago, some persons claiming to be National Security operatives went to the Forestry Commission Depot to claim the excavators.
The KMA Mayor claimed responsibility insisting they wanted to use the equipment for demolition of buildings affected by the Adum Blue Light Arena inferno.
The machines were returned after media reports.