By: D. Abraham Cooper Sr, Grand Gedeh County Reporter

KONOBO DISTRICT, GRAND GEDEH COUNTY, July 14, 2025 – In a stunning turn of events, a logging company operating in the southeastern forests of Liberia has mysteriously vanished, abandoning over 550 harvested logs and leaving the local community in turmoil.

Tensions are running high in Boundary Town, Konobo District, following the sudden disappearance of Horizons Logging Company, just one year into a five-year agreement that had promised development, jobs, and profit-sharing for the community. The company’s exit has sparked accusations of fraud, environmental damage, and economic sabotage.

Town Chief Ophelia B. Gbayou, speaking to our reporter over the weekend, described the company’s actions as “a betrayal of community trust.” Despite assurances of major development under the terms of their Social Agreement, the only contributions Horizons Logging reportedly made were the construction of a single public toilet and the installation of one hand pump.

“They came, cut down our trees, and gave us no benefit,” Chief Gbayou lamented. “Then they quietly came back, took their machines—after we permitted them—leaving our forest destroyed and more than 550 logs lying on the ground.”

The initial five-year contract, signed under the expectations of renewal up to 25 years, was meant to create sustained economic benefits, including infrastructure development, job creation, and timber revenue sharing. Instead, residents say they’ve been left with environmental degradation and broken promises.

Risks and Concerns

Community members and observers now warn of several serious risks:

• Environmental degradation due to exposed and abandoned logs, which attract pests, promote illegal logging, and contribute to deforestation.
• Public safety threats, as abandoned heavy logs pose hazards to residents and children in nearby communities.
• Increased tension, possibly sparking land disputes, protests, or retaliatory actions by frustrated citizens.

Revenue Lost

According to industry estimates, a single log of export-quality timber in Liberia can fetch between USD $150 to $350, depending on the species and grade. If we average each log at $200, the 550 abandoned logs represent an estimated $110,000 in lost revenue—funds that could have supported local schools, clinics, and road maintenance.

Additionally, the unfulfilled social development projects outlined in the Community Forest Management Agreement (CFMA) may account for tens of thousands of dollars in indirect losses.

Call for Accountability

Community leaders are now demanding a full-scale investigation. They are urging the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the Ministry of Justice, and Grand Gedeh County authorities to take swift action to:

• Investigate the breach of contract,
• Assess the environmental and economic damages,
• Ensure Horizons Logging Company is held accountable,
• Recover the value of the logs or ensure their lawful auction for the benefit of the community.

“We will not allow this injustice to go unanswered,” said another resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “Our trees were taken, our hopes were raised, and then we were discarded.”

As of this report, Horizons Logging Company has not issued any public statement. Calls and emails to its listed contacts have gone unanswered.