The Forestry Commission of Ghana has confirmed that on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 at approximately 3:30 p.m., the newly constructed accommodation for timber checkpoint personnel at Babatokuma in the Kintampo Forest District was vandalized and burnt by an irate mob.
Personnel of the Forestry Commission had been stationed at the facility to strengthen the monitoring of the overland movement of timber products, thereby helping curb the illegal transportation of timber and timber products into neighbouring countries.
Information available indicates that, the mob attacked and assaulted personnel on duty, claiming that their operations posed a threat to their timber business interest in the area. In the process, they forcibly entered the facility, vandalised and burnt down the structure.
The affected personnel were taken to the Kintampo Government Hospital for medical care, and the
incident has been reported to the Kintampo Divisional Police Command.
The Forestry Commission is collaborating with the Police and other relevant security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators who have been captured on video are duly identified, arrested, and made to face the full rigours of the law.
This attack is not only an assault on the Forestry Commission but also an affront to State authority and a
direct attempt to undermine efforts to safeguard the forest resources of the nation.
This also brings to the fore a worrying trend of stark impunity among sections of the public, considering that in the past, similar incidences of brutal attacks on personnel and offices of the Forestry Commission have occurred.
The Commission in a statement underscored the fact that the increasing disregard for forest laws and regulations has dire consequences for our nation if left unchecked.
Ghana risks losing its forest resources, with its attendant negative ecological and socio-economic consequences.
The Forestry Commission strongly condemned such acts of lawlessness, especially attacks on its
personnel and destruction of State property and called on all well-meaning Ghanaians, relevant
security agencies, Traditional Authorities, the Media, Civil Society Groups and other key stakeholders
to support the Forestry Commission in addressing the growing impunity in the sector.
The Forestry Commission assured the general public that it will not relent in its efforts to protect, develop and sustainably manage the forest and wildlife resources of this country for current and future generation.
By Benjamin Aidoo
