Ghana Official Fights Illegal Logging Despite Threats

When Elikem Kotoko refused to look the other way, he became a target for one of Ghana's most powerful criminal networks.

As Deputy CEO of Ghana's Forestry Commission, Kotoko has led an aggressive campaign against illegal logging, a multibillion-cedi operation devastating the nation's forests. His enforcement efforts have disrupted timber smuggling routes and boosted government revenue, but they've also made him enemies among those profiting from the destruction.

"Once he decided not to look the way, he became an enemy," a senior Forestry Commission source revealed. "The cartel realized he could not be bought."

Under Kotoko's direction, field officers have intercepted illegal timber trucks, rigorously applied forestry regulations, and prosecuted offenders. But instead of receiving support, officers who followed his lawful orders were suspended, their cases left unresolved for months in what many see as intimidation tactics.

The pressure intensified when Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources launched the National Timber Monitoring Team to enhance transparency and eliminate illegal timber movements. Sources confirm that logging cartels openly vowed the initiative must fail and targeted those implementing it.

Now Kotoko faces a court case widely viewed as retaliation. The suit relates to a routine July 2025 monitoring operation where he led assessments along timber corridors to identify enforcement gaps and block illegal transportation.

"It was not a raid for personal benefit," a source explained. "It was an institutional review."

Why This Inspires

In a system where corruption often wins, Kotoko's stand represents something rare: an official choosing forests over money. Sources say the illegal network expected him to take his share and stay silent, an offer he flatly rejected.

Environmental groups across Ghana are rallying behind him. They see his February 3rd court hearing as more than one man's case. It's a test of whether Ghana will protect the people enforcing its environmental laws or abandon them to powerful interests.

"This is bigger than one man," an environmental activist said. "It's about whether the country protects officers who enforce the law."

Despite mounting pressure, Kotoko remains focused on his mission. As Ghana works toward its climate commitments and sustainable forestry goals, his supporters maintain he acted entirely within the law and in the nation's interest.

Those close to him say his position is simple: Ghana's forests must be protected, no matter whose interests are threatened. That kind of integrity is exactly what the country needs to win its long battle against illegal exploitation.