The Ahafo Region, once known for its serene landscapes and rich forests, is now a hotspot of violence and lawlessness, with rising insecurity threatening the lives and livelihoods of its residents. Despite the escalating tensions, the authorities remain conspicuously silent, leaving communities to grapple with the chaos on their own.
Over the past few weeks, the region has witnessed a surge in violent incidents, particularly in towns like Sankore and surrounding areas. These deaths are directly linked to the frenzied rush for timber in the Ahafo forests, a situation that has worsened since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed power in December.
Reports indicate that party-affiliated thugs, emboldened by the change in government, have overrun the forests, from Akrodie to Asumura, Mim to Sienchem, and Acherensua to Yamfo. These groups, operating with reckless abandon, are pillaging the region’s timber resources as if there were no tomorrow. Forestry Commission officers, tasked with protecting these reserves, have been reduced to mere spectators, fearing for their lives and job security as the thugs run amok.
What began as unchecked deforestation has now escalated into deadly gun battles for control of the forests. Over the past weekend, multiple deaths were reported in the forested areas of Asunafo South, stretching toward the Western North Region. In Sankore, another life was lost due to lumber-related violence. Just today, a clash for dominance in the Breme-Pokukrom-Adugyama forest area claimed the lives of three men, identified as thugs from the Tano South Constituency.
The silence from regional leadership is deafening. Despite the growing body count and the clear link between the violence and NDC-affiliated groups, party leaders in Ahafo have shown little to no commitment to addressing the crisis. Their inaction has left residents questioning whether the authorities are even aware of—or care about—the bloodshed and destruction unfolding in their backyard.
This wave of violence is not just an environmental crisis; it is a stark reminder of the fragility of security in the region. The unchecked activities of these thugs, coupled with the apparent indifference of those in power, are pushing Ahafo to the brink. If urgent action is not taken, the region risks descending further into chaos, with devastating consequences for its people and its future.
The question on everyone’s mind is simple: how many more lives must be lost before those in power step up to restore order and protect the people they were elected to serve? For now, the forests of Ahafo continue to burn, and the blood of its people continues to flow—all under the watch of a leadership that seems content to look the other way.