Gabon

Gabon to implement housing tax starting 2026

On December 4, the Gabonese Council of Ministers approved the introduction of a flat-rate Housing Tax (TFH), effective January 2, 2026.

According to the approved guidelines, the tax will apply to all buildings, whether residential or commercial. It will be levied monthly, included in electricity bills, and collected by the Gabon Energy and Water Company (SEEG). Failure to pay the tax will result in penalties such as power disconnection.

However, to account for regional disparities, the government has decided to exempt rural areas during the initial implementation phase. This phased approach aims to avoid increasing the economic burden on households in areas with low public service coverage.

Gabon's Ministry of Water and Forests to strengthen timber industry traceability

In early December, officials from Gabon's Ministry of Water and Forests held a meeting to assess the progress of priority projects and establish necessary guidelines to ensure robust public action, focusing on the efficiency and sustainability of the forestry and timber sector.

The meeting led to the development of a roadmap aimed at modernizing processes and maximizing state revenue. Key areas identified include:

· Strengthening Traceability: Enhancing monitoring mechanisms to ensure the legality and sustainability of Gabonese timber in international markets.

· Tax Performance: Optimizing the collection of land taxes, a key lever for funding development projects in the sector.

· Human Capital Development: Integrating and deploying newly trained personnel to inject fresh blood into forest management.

· Sovereignty and Protection: Safeguarding the national heritage.

Precious Woods: challenges exist in Gabon's timber industry

Markus Pfannkuch, Co-CEO of Precious Woods, reported that several timber factories in Gabon have ceased operations, and activity levels are also low in the Nkok Special Economic Zone, where many timber companies are located.

He stated, "We have experienced similar ups and downs in the past, but never to this extent. Furthermore, the recent announcement of the imminent closure of the first historical sawmill is a worrying sign. Personally, I believe we have entered a critical phase for the industry."

In Gabon, Precious Woods frequently faces difficulties in the supply of mechanical spare parts. Major issues also include declining efficiency of Gabon's railway transport, which companies rely on to move timber, as well as capacity and pricing challenges in maritime shipping.

Among Precious Woods' African timber species, Azobé and Padouk are performing well. However, exports of Padouk from Gabon to the EU were blocked for over 10 months in 2024 and 2025 due to a lack of import permits.

Republic of the Congo

Congo launches SIVL tax module to enhance forest traceability and tax management

On December 5, the Republic of the Congo officially launched the tax module of its Timber Legality Verification System (SIVL).

The SIVL tax module enables the full automation of forest tax collection, covering every step from declaration to actual payment. Its launch marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of the Republic of the Congo's forestry sector and the strengthening of its economic governance.

Forestry contributes nearly 6% to the Congo's national GDP, but tax revenue accounts for less than 3%. This discrepancy is attributed to targeted exemptions, calculation errors, and sometimes under-reporting. The government hopes that by digitizing the system, it can gradually but significantly increase tax revenue. An internal study suggests that once the tax module covers all 17 taxes and fees stipulated by the Forest Code, it could potentially generate an additional 30 billion CFA francs in annual revenue.

Congo to establish new agroforestry industrial park

On December 20, the government of the Republic of the Congo and Aforest Congo Company signed a development agreement in Brazzaville to establish an agroforestry industrial park dedicated to afforestation, reforestation, and wood processing. Aforest Congo is a subsidiary of the Austria-based European ASC Impact group, specializing in afforestation and sustainable wood processing.

The project plans to develop and operate agroforestry and industrial activities, including plantations, a pulp and paper mill as the primary industrial unit, and a mechanical training and agricultural research center covering approximately 300 hectares.

Ghana

Ghana harvests 1.51 million cubic meters of timber – Forestry Commission

A total of 1.51 million cubic meters of natural forest timber was harvested as of the end of November, 2025, as against an annual target of 2 million cubic meters.

Additionally, 208,194m3 of plantation timber was harvested over the same period.

This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown, on December 15,2025 at end of year media interaction.

He said, as at the end of October, 2025, a total of 180,021m3 of timber and timber products valued at 82.5 million Euros had been exported.

During the same period, a total of 519,887m3 of lumber valued at GHC770 million and 108,937m3 of plywood valued at GHC640 million were traded on the domestic market.

Ghana’s Forestry Commission proposes bill amendment to transform into para-military institution

On December 16, the Forestry Commission of Ghana announced its intention to propose amendments to the Forestry Commission Act (Act 571), aiming to transform the Commission into a para-military institution. The Commission stated that if achieved, this would significantly enhance its law enforcement capabilities, particularly in combating illegal mining (galamsey).

The Commission also plans to establish forest protection camps within forest reserves and rehabilitate existing ones. Furthermore, the Forestry Commission will develop and implement a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism to support forest conservation and restoration.

Ghana State Housing Company partners with bank to address 2 million housing unit deficit

Ghana is facing a severe housing deficit of approximately 2 million units. Despite strong demand, limited access to mortgage financing has excluded many potential homebuyers from the housing system, with the middle- and low-income segments being the most severely affected.

To expand mortgage access for Ghanaians across income levels, the State Housing Company Limited has signed a new mortgage cooperation agreement with Republic Bank (Ghana), which is expected to significantly boost Ghana's housing market.

Under the new agreement, the State Housing Company will be responsible for the supply and development of housing, while Republic Bank will provide tailored mortgage products designed to increase homeownership opportunities for creditworthy Ghanaians.

Afribiz Invest to deliver 22,000 housing units

South African firm Afribiz Invest has formally signed a 27-billion-rand agreement with Ghana's National Home Ownership Fund to develop 22,000 multi-functional residential units across Ghana. This is one of the largest urban development projects led by an African entity in recent years.

The agreement lays the groundwork for a major housing initiative in Ghana, aimed at meeting the country's growing demand for affordable urban housing. Pressure on housing infrastructure is intensifying as Ghana's population continues to grow and urbanization accelerates.

Once launched, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs across various sectors, including construction, engineering, manufacturing, and local supply chains.