The Forestry Commission is set to auction thousands of wood beams confiscated from illegal loggers in forest reserves. 

It follows the constitution of a committee to oversee the auction by the Forest Services Division of the Commission.  

Several truckloads of sawn lumber seized by a joint military-forestry taskforce in anti-logging operations in the Western Region, have been arriving in Kumasi.

The operation code-named 'Halt', has led to the seizure of the lumber from illegal loggers including sawmillers, who have been operating at the fringes of reserves.

Sui, Tano Suhyen, Murro, Krokosua and other reserves, were targeted by the armed loggers whose operations are depleting reserves.

Commercially valued tree species such as Mahogany, Odum, Mansonia, African teak and extinct Kokurodua, have all been destroyed.

Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, during a recent visit to inspect the confiscated lumber at Sefwi Boako and Juaboso, hinted of the auction.

At least, 19 truck each loaded with 900 and 1200 beams, have arrived at the Ahodwo yard of the Forestry Commission in Kumasi under the strict guidance of armed personnel drawn from the military and Forestry Commission.

 This according to officials of the Commission, will pave way for the auction to take place on a day yet to be determined.

A member of the taskforce and Assistant District Manager for Sefwi Wiawso, Theodore  Banyele told Nhyira FM, the Forestry Commission's policy does not allow the selling of the illegally sawn lumber to loggers or their assigns.

This according to him, is to discourage illegal logging in reserves.

"The Forestry Commission has a policy that anybody who engages in any of these illegalities, when the lumber is seized from the person we don't sell it to the person otherwise we would be encouraging them to deplete the forest the more."

According to him, the decision not to auction the seized lumber in the catchment of the perpetrators is to serve as a deterrent to others engaged in the illegality.

"The decision was taken to transport them from Sefwi Boako to Kumasi so that if they are going to auction it, the would auction it to different persons and not perpetrators," he said.