Dr. Hugh Clement Adokwei Brown, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, has been accused of approving 107 timber compartments to an NPP-affiliated company at a time when NDC loyalists are being denied even one compartment.
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Dr. Brown, who was appointed as the Executive Director of the Forestry Service Division of the Forestry Commission in June 2022 by the then President Akufo-Addo, was elevated to the CEO of the Forestry Commission in 2025 by President John Mahama.
In a letter dated June 4, 2025, the Acting CEO of Forestry Commission approved 107 compartments to Supremo Woods Processing Ltd, owned by Mr. Francis Yaw Donkoh to “HARVEST ECONOMIC TREE SPECIES IN THE TANO OFFIN FOREST RESERVE IN THE NKAWIE FOREST DISTRICT”
Speaking to Dr. Brown, he denied any wrongdoing saying said Timber Utilization permit as issued to Supremo Woods Processing by the previous President Akufo-Addo led NPP administration in Septmber 2024 and that Commission is only going through the required administrative processes.
Regarding the issue of the 107 compartments, a Timber Utilization permit was issued last year ( September 2024) by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. the forestry commission is going through the required administrative processes and not issuing licenses. – Dr. Brown told Awake News
But his explaination seems not to go down well with some Ghanaians and expecially sympathizer of the ruling NDC.
In an opened letter addressed to President John Mahama, one social media user by name EL Citizen Vilante said:
“Dr. Brown is a well-known NPP sympathiser who, by his own admission, secured this role through his close relationship with your elder brother, Mr. Alfred Mahama. Recently, he boasted openly among his NPP friends at Polo Heights about how that connection secured him the CEO position.
Mr. President, let’s call a spade a spade. Ghana’s protected forests are under siege. As the NPP government prepared to exit, then Minister Abu Jinapor rushed to allocate several Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) to cronies. I will soon provide detailed information on those beneficiaries.”
He continued that “A few weeks ago, Dr. Brown approved over 107 compartments to SUPREMO WOODS, a company owned by Mr. Francis Yaw Donkoh (a known NPP figure). Meanwhile, loyal members of your own party, some of whom have been requesting just one compartment, continue to be denied by Dr. Brown and Mr. Onomah (the Cartographer). This is a clear case of injustice wrapped in political betrayal.”
He has since alled on President Mahama to fire the Forestry Commission CEO.
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