Timber Millers accuse, demand arrest of trade association members behind attack on Forestry Commission officers
The Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals responsible for the recent attack on Forestry Commission personnel and the destruction of a newly constructed accommodation facility at the Babatokuma checkpoint in the Kintampo Forest District of the Bono East Region.
The organisation alleged that some members of a timber trade association were behind the incident, claiming they were unhappy with the operations of the checkpoint, which they believed were affecting their business activities.
In a statement signed by its Chief Executive, Kwame Asamoah Adam, GTMO condemned the attack and stressed that the timber industry operates under clearly defined laws and procedures that provide legitimate avenues for addressing grievances.
According to the organisation, licensed timber operators have been adequately educated on the documentation required at Forestry Commission checkpoints, including proof of the legal source of timber before transportation to destination markets.
While acknowledging that administrative and logistical challenges occasionally result in delays at some checkpoints, GTMO maintained that such difficulties cannot justify violence against public officers or the destruction of government property.
“No serious business operator who wants to run a successful and sustainable business will ever think of seeking redress in the manner that was embarked on at Babatokuma,” the statement noted.
GTMO alleged that the attackers assaulted Forestry Commission officers on duty before forcibly entering the facility, vandalising it and setting parts of it ablaze.
“The reasons for the destruction of the facility and the injury caused to the staff constitute a criminal offence and the perpetrators must be fished out, arrested and put before the court,” Mr. Adam stated.
The organisation further linked the incident to concerns about illegal logging activities, alleging that some operators were harvesting timber unlawfully from forest reserves in parts of the Bono, Ahafo and Western Regions and transporting the products through the Techiman, Tamale, Bolgatanga and Paga corridor to markets in the Sahel region.
According to GTMO, the continued activities of illegal operators pose a threat to legitimate timber businesses, employment opportunities and Ghana's foreign exchange earnings.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) has also condemned the attack, describing it as a direct assault on the rule of law and the work of forestry professionals.
In a statement signed by its President, Abukari Nantogmah Attah, the Institute described the incident as “barbaric” and “reckless” and called for enhanced security protection for Forestry Commission personnel.
The Institute noted that forestry officers have previously faced similar attacks in areas including Mankranso, Tepa, Nkawie and Bekwai, underscoring the growing risks associated with enforcing forestry regulations.
The Timber Validation Committee (TVC) also condemned the incident during its second quarter meeting on June 12, 2026, and called for stronger measures to protect Forestry Commission staff and preserve Ghana's reputation as the first African country and second in the world to export Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensed timber.
The injured Forestry Commission officers were treated at the Kintampo Government Hospital.
The Forestry Commission has since reported the matter to the Kintampo Divisional Police Command and says it is working with the police and other security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible.
According to the Commission, some of the suspected perpetrators were captured in video footage that is expected to aid ongoing investigations.