By Felix Cofie
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has issued a strong warning to members of the newly inaugurated National Timber Monitoring Team, urging them to resist corruption and remain steadfast in their mandate to protect Ghana’s forests.
“Don’t go and join the illegality. Don’t go and get corrupted. Go and make your appointment count, knowing every day that the people of Ghana are counting on you,” the Minister charged.
He was speaking in Accra at the swearing-in ceremony of the nine-member National Timber Monitoring Team, an event that signaled more than the formation of another government body. According to the Minister, the team represents a decisive shift in Ghana’s approach to forest governance and a clear statement of intent to clamp down on illegal logging and encroachment into forest reserves.
Mr. Armah Buah described Ghana’s forests as one of the country’s most valuable national assets, stressing that they go beyond timber production. He noted that forests support climate resilience, conserve biodiversity, sustain rural livelihoods, and underpin the long-term sustainability of the timber industry. From protecting watersheds to preserving wildlife habitats, he said forests play a silent but critical role in national development.
Despite their importance, Ghana’s forests have come under sustained attack over the years. Illegal chainsaw operations and unauthorized encroachment into forest reserves have continued to undermine conservation efforts, erode public confidence in forest governance, and deprive the state of much-needed revenue. These activities, the Minister observed, have also contributed significantly to environmental degradation.
It is against this background that the National Timber Monitoring Team has been established. Mr. Armah Buah emphasized that the team’s inauguration was not ceremonial but a demonstration of government’s resolve to confront one of the most persistent threats to Ghana’s natural heritage.
The mandate of the team, he explained, is clear and uncompromising: to significantly reduce illegal logging, forest reserve encroachment, and related forest crimes across the country. This will be achieved through coordinated monitoring, intelligence gathering, rapid response, and close collaboration with relevant enforcement agencies.
In practical terms, the team is expected to monitor timber harvesting, transportation, and trade nationwide, while detecting and deterring illegal logging activities, particularly within protected forest reserves. Working closely with the Forestry Commission, security agencies, local authorities, and district assemblies, the team will also support enforcement actions and provide timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence to guide operational and policy decisions.
The Minister described the National Timber Monitoring Team as a frontline force in the fight to protect Ghana’s forests, tasked with coordinating efforts and ensuring that enforcement actions are strategic, unified, and effective. He acknowledged that while various stakeholders have previously contributed to forest monitoring and enforcement, illegal activities have persisted, making a renewed and more disciplined approach necessary.
This, he noted, is why integrity and accountability are central to the team’s work. The ethical responsibility placed on members is non-negotiable, as they are expected to resist corruption and stand firmly against the very illegalities they have been appointed to stop.
Drawing parallels with the government’s fight against illegal mining, Mr. Armah Buah said illegal logging will now face the same level of coordinated and decisive action. He stressed that natural resources are interconnected and enforcement efforts must reflect that reality, adding that regulatory gaps and institutional weaknesses will no longer be allowed to serve as cover for illegal actors.
To ensure accountability, the team will operate under a structured reporting system, with a director reporting through the Chief Executive Officer to the Minister. Regular operational updates and policy-relevant reports will be required to enable swift and corrective government action where necessary.
The Minister assured the team of the Ministry’s full support, including the necessary policy backing to enable them to succeed. However, he emphasized that success will ultimately depend on their discipline, commitment, and ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders.
He further called on traditional authorities, local communities, civil society organizations, and the private sector to support the work of the team, stressing that forest protection is a shared national responsibility.
With the swearing-in of the National Timber Monitoring Team, Ghana has taken a significant step toward safeguarding its forests for present and future generations. The real test, the Minister concluded, lies in translating this renewed commitment into sustained action on the ground.
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Source:
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