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Forestry Commission condemns mob attack on its timber checkpoint facility
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The Forestry Commission (FC) has condemned the vandalisation and destruction of its newly constructed accommodation facility for timber checkpoint personnel at Babatokuma in the Kintampo Forest District.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at about 3:30 p.m., when an irate mob allegedly attacked the facility, vandalised the structure and subsequently set it ablaze.
A statement issued by the Commission in Accra yesterday and copied to the Ghanaian Times said the facility had been established to accommodate personnel deployed to strengthen the monitoring of the overland movement of timber products and curb the illegal transportation of timber and timber products to neighbouring countries.
According to the statement, the attack was aimed at disrupting efforts by the Commission to enforce forestry regulations and protect the country’s forest resources.
“The Forestry Commission strongly condemns such acts of lawlessness, particularly attacks on its personnel and the destruction of State property. We call on all well-meaning Ghanaians, the security agencies, traditional authorities, the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support efforts to address the growing impunity in the forestry sector,” the statement said.
The Commission described the attack as not only an assault on its personnel and property but also an affront to State authority and a direct attempt to undermine efforts to safeguard Ghana’s forest resources.
It further expressed concern about what it described as a worrying trend of increasing disregard for forest laws and regulations.
“This incident brings to the fore a disturbing pattern of impunity among sections of the public. Similar attacks on Forestry Commission personnel and offices have occurred in the past.
The increasing disregard for forest laws and regulations poses a serious threat to the nation’s forest resources and could have far-reaching ecological and socio-economic consequences if left unchecked,” the statement noted.
The Commission said preliminary information indicated that the attackers claimed the operations of the timber checkpoint posed a threat to their timber business interests in the area.
It said the mob assaulted personnel on duty before forcibly entering the facility, vandalising equipment and setting the newly constructed accommodation block on fire.
The affected officers sustained various degrees of injuries and were subsequently transported to the Kintampo Government Hospital, where they received medical attention.
The incident has since been reported to the Kintampo Divisional Police Command for investigation.
The Forestry Commission said it was working closely with the Police and other security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators, some of whom were captured on video footage, were identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“The Forestry Commission wishes to assure the general public that it remains committed to protecting, developing and sustainably managing the forest and wildlife resources of this country for the benefit of present and future generations,” the statement emphasised.
The Commission reiterated its determination to continue enforcing forestry laws despite the challenges and called for greater public support in combating illegal activities that threaten the nation’s forests and wildlife resources.
By Kingsley Asare
Burnt Office Photo Caption: The burnt accommodation facility for timber checkpoint personnel at Babatokuma in the Kintampo Forest District.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticised the decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Christine Tamakloe Attionu.
In a statement issued on July 30, 2026, the party described the ruling as a “travesty of justice” and claimed it was politically motivated.
The Court of Appeal on Thursday overturned her conviction and 10-year prison sentence, which had been imposed by the High Court in April 2024 on charges including stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
According to the NPP, the former MASLOC boss was tried for five years and convicted after the High Court examined evidence relating to alleged financial irregularities during her tenure between 2013 and 2016.
The party noted that she left Ghana while the trial was ongoing and was later extradited from the United States, arriving in Ghana on June 9, 2026.
The NPP argued that the trial court had found that her actions caused a loss of nearly GH¢90 million to the state and that the evidence against her was substantial.
It questioned why the conviction was overturned barely seven weeks after her return to Ghana.
The party further accused the Attorney-General of using state institutions to protect people connected to the governing party.
It claimed that several cases involving persons affiliated with the government had been discontinued since January 2025 and that the acquittal of Madam Tamakloe Attionu was part of that pattern.
The NPP linked the decision to the ongoing case involving its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
It called for his immediate acquittal and discharge, arguing that his conviction was also politically motivated.
The party demanded that the Attorney-General publish details of all cases involving persons linked to the governing party that have been withdrawn, discontinued or otherwise terminated since January 2025, including the reasons for those decisions.
It called on the Judicial Council and the leadership of the Judiciary to take steps to restore public confidence in the justice system.
The NPP said it would pursue all lawful avenues, including a possible review at the Supreme Court where applicable, to ensure accountability in cases involving public funds.
The party maintained that the fight against corruption must not be selective and that public resources belong to all Ghanaians.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame has disagreed with the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, insisting that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr Dame made the remarks after the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned her conviction and 10-year prison sentence.
He maintained that the evidence presented by the prosecution during the trial was credible and sufficient to support the conviction.
According to him, Ms Tamakloe absconded after she had been confronted with evidence led by the prosecution.
Mr Dame questioned the basis for the acquittal and suggested that the current Attorney-General should explain what led to the Court of Appeal’s decision.
He wondered whether the appeal had been strongly opposed by the state.
When asked whether he would advise the Attorney-General to challenge the ruling, Mr Dame answered in the affirmative.
“Oh, definitely,” he stated.
The former Attorney-General spoke about the ongoing criminal case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
He indicated that an application for stay of proceedings filed at the High Court had been dismissed, and that a fresh application had been filed at the Court of Appeal.
Mr Dame argued that the charge sheet in the case was defective and that the appellate court should determine the issue before the trial proceeds.
He further criticised the decision to hear the case during the legal vacation, describing it as an “unjustified haste” and saying such trials had not been conducted during vacation periods in the past.
Mr Dame said his legal team would formally protest the directive allowing the case to proceed during the vacation.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling in favour of Ms Tamakloe has become a major legal and political issue, with the Attorney-General’s Department already announcing plans to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
