Police and the Forest Service Division feud over chainsaw machine

New Edubiase (Ash), July 16, GNA- The New Edubiase police and the Adansi East District Forest Service Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission are at loggerheads over the release of a chainsaw machine seized from Madam Amma Owusua of Bepoase by the Forest Services Division.

While the police satisfied themselves after investigations that Madam Owusua had not used the machine to carry out any illegal timber operations in the area, and that, the machine should be released to her, officials from the FSD were of different mind.

Detective Corporal Francis Awuah of the New Edubiase Police, who briefed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the matter, said several appeals by the district police command to the forestry officials to release the machine seized from the owner had proved futile.

Corporal Awuah said on May 6, this year, Mrs Serddy Anku and one Amissah, both of the district forestry division accompanied by a team of military personnel, brought the woman to the police station with an allegation of possessing a chainsaw and using it for illegal timber operations in the area.

Corporal Awuah said the police therefore, arrested the woman but the forestry officials took possession of the machine.

He said after thorough investigations, it came out that the woman had not used the machine for any illegal timber operations as alleged by the forestry officials.

Corporal Awuah said the police therefore discharged the woman and asked the forestry officials to release her machine to her.

He said, however that, after several appeals by the police and the woman, the forestry officials had refused to release it to her.

When the GNA contacted officials of the district forest division, they refused to comment with an explanation that the district manager had travelled and they were not mandated to talk to the press on the issue.