Washington DC-based Environmental Investigatal Agency (EIA) says the committee that cleared government officials of corruption allegations in illegal rosewood scandal did a poor job.

According to the Africa Programme Campaigner at EIA, Kidan Araya, the committee purposefully avoided substantial evidence of the issue that seeks to address the key problems at stake.

 “We [EIA] do not think the committee did a good job that does justice to the incredible work done over the years by courageous activists and citizens in Ghana.

“How is it possible that CITES permits are routinely issued when a ban is in place, and the minister stated that no CITE permits would be issued?” she said through a mail.

EIA released an investigative report titled, “Ban-Boozled: How corruption and collusion fuel illegal rosewood trade in Ghana,” which showed some government officials obtaining illegal permit from corrupt Forestry officials despite a government ban on the exportation of Rosewood.

However, a seven-member committee chaired by the Deputy Lands Minister, Benito Owusu Bio produced a report stating there was no evidence to back the claims of the EIA story.

Commenting on this, Araya said the Agency absolutely stand by their methodology and findings, and will continue to advocate for forests and communities that are still suffering from the rosewood crisis.

She further noted that EIA was optimistic that the committee’s investigation will take a deep dive and evaluate the rosewood crisis in the country which will bring about strong solutions to the problem.

“The government is sending very different but powerful messages to two distinct audiences. It definitely sends a clear signal to traffickers and their enablers, showing that authorities are not going to go after them.

“On the other hand, it sends a signal to the European partners in the VPA/FLEGT process that addressing a central forest governance issue appears not to be a priority of the government,” she indicated.