The Forestry Commission is taking steps to address the shortage of frontline technical staff, which has hampered efforts in combating illegal mining and forest degradation across the country.
In recent years, the Commission has struggled with a lack of technical expertise in natural resource management, undermining its ability to protect forest reserves effectively.
Acting CEO of the Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, said technical experts are critical in coordinating protection efforts.
“We have rapid response teams and forest guards. The rapid response team is led by the technical staff, so they will coordinate efforts to protect our forest reserves,” he noted.
He added that with the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative, trained officers would also support the Timber Industry Division.
Speaking at the 2nd Matriculation Ceremony of the Forestry Commission Training Centre, Dr. Brown highlighted the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to protect Ghana’s forests.
Between 2001 and 2023, Ghana lost an estimated 3.4% of its forest cover annually. Despite intensified efforts against illegal logging and galamsey (illegal mining), forest reserves remain under pressure due to depleted staff strength.
The Certificate Programme in Natural Resources Management is one of the Commission’s responses. This year, 81 out of 330 applicants were admitted into the programme, with women making up 46% of the intake.
Director of the Training Centre, Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, expressed optimism about the programme’s role in strengthening frontline protection:
“As we are all aware of the issues with galamsey and illegal logging, we can’t take away the fact that we need people who are skilled and dedicated to be at the forest frontiers.”
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has pledged to support the initiative. Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Special Advisor Prof. Jerry Kumah assured the school of resources to improve infrastructure and logistics.
“The Ministry is committed to provide the needed resources to the Forestry Commission Training Centre to deliver on its mandate. We will address key infrastructure and logistical needs to ensure optimal delivery of excellence at the center, including effective running of this Certificate programme.”
The programme, run in collaboration with the University of Energy and Natural Resources, has about 80% of its costs absorbed by the Forestry Commission.
With better training and the addition of new technical staff, the Commission hopes to strengthen its fight against illegal mining and protect Ghana’s forests for future generations.
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