The Timber Validation Committee (TVC) has strongly condemned a violent attack on Forestry Commission staff and the destruction of a newly constructed accommodation facility for timber checkpoint personnel at Babatokuma near Kintampo in the Bono East Region.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, led to the vandalism and burning of the facility, which had been built to support personnel working at the timber checkpoint.
At its Second Quarter Meeting held on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Corporate Headquarters of the Forestry Commission in Accra, the Committee described the attack as brutal and deeply concerning, warning that such acts threaten ongoing efforts to ensure the sustainable management of Ghana’s forest resources.
The TVC noted that the destruction of state property and attacks on officials undermine the work of institutions tasked with protecting Ghana’s forests and called for urgent action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It has therefore urged the Ghana Police Service, local authorities, and traditional leaders in the area to collaborate in investigating the incident and ensuring that those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
The Committee also called for strengthened security measures to protect Forestry Commission personnel in the line of duty.
According to the TVC, safeguarding officials and facilities is critical to restoring public confidence in the forestry sector and maintaining order in forest governance operations.
The Committee further stressed that such attacks not only endanger lives and property but also pose a broader risk to Ghana’s international reputation in sustainable forestry management.
Ghana is currently recognized as the first country in Africa and the second in the world to export Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensed timber, a status the Committee says must be protected through strict enforcement of the law and effective stakeholder cooperation.
