Post election issues: Youth loot vehicles from Forestry Commission offices in Sunyani

Some youth suspected to be supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday invaded the Bono Regional Forestry Commission premises to ransack the offices.

This is part of a number of post election issues in relation to looting, vandalism and destruction of properties in some locations across the country.

The head office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Accra, has also been ransacked. The constituency office of the incumbent Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful who has been defeated in the 2024 parliamentary election has been ransacked.

In the Sunyani incident, the invaders, who were armed with machetes succeeded in seizing two patrol vehicles, belonging to the Regional office of the commission, which also houses the Sunyani Forest Services Division (FSD).

They made away with an unspecified number of chain saw machines.

Graphic Online gathered from the Regional office that, they forced the two drivers to hand over the keys of the vehicles and then moved them out of the commission's premises.

The invaders also removed batteries of the commission's old vehicle and bolted, before the police arrived at the scene.

They were moving with a towing vehicle to tow some vehicles at the offices. 

They were said to have tried to seize another vehicle and carried a metal money safe box, containing the commission's funds at the finance office, but they could not succeed in lifting it because it was heavy.

At of the time Graphic Online visited the Regional office, there were six people with motorbikes at the premises of the office, taking away some chain saw machines from the commission's storeroom.

Some of the workers who were at post during the time of the operation told Graphic Online that the invaders had also taken away their personal money.

They were also said to have been forced to open some department offices, destroying the doors and some properties of the offices

Forestry Services Division (FSD) office

At the Sunyani FSD, they forced open the main gate and took away an unspecified number of motorbikes, including that of a security person and some lumber. 

They also vandalised the windows of the office and attempted to take a Kia truck parked at the office but could not succeed.

There was a clear indication that their mission was not to attack or sack workers of the FSD or take over heir positions, but to seize property and other valuable items such as money.

When Graphic Online visited the Sunyani FSD, military personnel deployed to prevent further seizure of property were seen. 

It was not clear where the invaders had sent the vehicles, motorbikes and other items to.

The workers at the Regional FSD told Online Graphic that they were traumatized about the action of the invaders.

The security person at the Sunyani FSD Office, Adams Ganiyu, told Graphic Online that he quickly locked the main entrance of the office and fled into the nearby bush.

He said he was given a hot chase, but he managed to escape, explaining that the invaders broke the main entrance to take away some motorbikes, including his personal motorbike.

He said he could not recall the number of motorbikes taken, adding that he had to check from their document to be able to be able to tell the exact number taken away.