A major manhunt is underway for members of an irate mob who allegedly attacked Forestry Commission personnel, torched a state facility, and disrupted anti-timber smuggling operations at Babatokuma near Kintampo in the Bono East Region.
The Forestry Commission says it is working with the police and other security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators, some of whom were captured on video during the attack.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at about 3:30 p.m., when the mob reportedly stormed a newly constructed accommodation facility for timber checkpoint personnel stationed in the area.
According to the Commission, the attackers assaulted officers on duty before vandalising and setting the facility ablaze.
The accommodation had been built to support Forestry Commission personnel deployed to strengthen monitoring of the overland movement of timber products and curb the illegal transportation of timber and timber products to neighbouring countries.
Preliminary information suggests the attackers accused the Forestry Commission of threatening their timber business interests in the area.
Injured personnel were rushed to the Kintampo Government Hospital for treatment, while the incident was formally reported to the Kintampo Divisional Police Command.
The Forestry Commission described the attack as a direct assault on state authority and an attempt to frustrate efforts to protect Ghana’s forest resources from illegal exploitation.
The Commission also expressed concern over what it called a growing culture of impunity, noting that similar attacks on its personnel and facilities have occurred in various parts of the country in recent years.
It warned that unchecked lawlessness and continued disregard for forestry regulations could accelerate forest depletion, threaten biodiversity, and undermine livelihoods that depend on Ghana’s natural resources.
The Forestry Commission has therefore appealed to traditional authorities, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media, and the public to support efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and strengthen the fight against illegal timber activities.
Despite the attack, the Commission says it remains resolute in its mandate to protect, develop, and sustainably manage Ghana’s forest and wildlife resources for current and future generations.
Source: Peter Quao Adattor/Starrfm.com.gh
