Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has accused the late Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, of illegally granting access to dozens of forest reserves for mining activities without following due process.

Speaking in an interview on Good Evening Ghana on January 21, 2026, Prof Frimpong-Boateng alleged that Sir John was involved in what he described as reckless and unlawful activities within Ghana’s protected forest reserves.

“Sir John was mining, giving concessions and doing crazy things in the forest. And he was giving the forest itself, 42 of them, 47 forest itself, to people to mine in them without going through the process… So, I compiled all the letters that he wrote into a book like this and went to the President,” he said.

According to Prof Frimpong-Boateng, he compiled several letters allegedly written by Sir John authorising these activities and presented them directly to the then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He revealed that following his submission, Akufo-Addo summoned Sir John to a meeting to address the allegations.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng disclosed that he personally met Sir John on two occasions, including meetings held at the Presidency involving senior officials.

“And I said, Mr President, this man, in charge of the forestry of Ghana, is a greatest danger to the forest of this country…I said it in the meeting.

“And so, the President asked Sir John, have you heard what the Professor is saying? And he was like, oh, Mr President, you know this, that, the way he does his things.”

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Beyond the Presidency, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said he also briefed the Council of State on the situation.

“On two occasions, I presented the state of the environment and the fight against climate change to the Council of State,” he disclosed.



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