The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, George Agbenowoshi, has highlighted a significant issue hindering the prosecution of Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey. During a recent ceremony organized by Parliament to commemorate the 2024 Green Ghana Day, Mr. Agbenowoshi disclosed that many cases against Chinese nationals are often dismissed in court due to the lack of available interpreters.

Mr. Agbenowoshi explained that the language barrier causes these cases to stagnate in the judicial system, resulting in eventual dismissals. "We frequently encounter situations where cases involving Chinese individuals in illegal mining activities are thrown out of court because there are no interpreters to facilitate the legal process," he stated.

Beyond the judicial challenges, Mr. Agbenowoshi also shed light on other pressing issues faced by the Forestry Commission, including the untimely release of funds necessary for various forestry-related activities. These delays severely impact the Commission's ability to manage plantation activities and other critical operations.

He pointed out that district Forestry offices across the nation are particularly affected by these financial and logistical constraints. "The lack of timely funding disrupts our activities significantly. Many legal issues have been pending in court for years without resolution due to these complications," he noted.

In addition to financial hurdles, Mr. Agbenowoshi lamented the inadequacy of essential logistics such as pickup vehicles and motorbikes, which are crucial for field operations. This shortfall hampers the Commission's efforts to tackle numerous forest offenses effectively.

"Our capacity to combat forest offenses, including illegal mining, farming, bushfires, illegal lumbering, and chainsaw activities, is severely compromised by the insufficient logistical support. The absence of necessary transportation and equipment at district stations makes it exceedingly difficult to enforce laws and protect our forest reserves," Mr. Agbenowoshi emphasized.

The Deputy Manager's comments underscore the multifaceted challenges faced by the Forestry Commission in safeguarding Ghana's forests. These challenges not only impede legal actions against illegal miners but also affect broader efforts to preserve and manage the nation's forest resources effectively.