Akyawkrom (Ash), July 22, GNA – A workshop to sensitize relevant
stakeholders on the implementation of the International Forest Instrument in
Ghana has been held at Akyawkrom near Ejisu in Ashanti. The day’s workshop was organized by the Forestry Commission in
collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), the National Forest Programme Facility, the Forest Forum of Ashanti,
Central, Western and Brong-Ahafo and the Growing Partnerships (GFP)
Initiative. It was designed to help participants to identify where Ghana stands
with respect to the national policy measures in the instrument, adopted in
December 2007 during the United Nations Forum on Forests. The workshop provided the platform for them to deliberate on
prioritized issues to move forward the implementation of the Instrument and
enhance sustainable forest management to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the country. Presenting a paper on “Understanding the implementation of the
Forest Investment in Ghana”, Reverend David Guba Kpelle, National Project
Coordinator of the Instrument, said its primary purpose was to promote
commitment and action at all levels. He said even though, it was voluntary, countries were expected to
develop and implement priority national policies and measures including the
promotion of efficient production and processing of forest products. Rev. Kpelle said it was also expected that government supported the
use of traditional forest-related knowledge in sustainable forest management,
created an enabling environment for private sector investment and enhanced
cross-sectoral policy to address deforestation and forest degradation. The coordinator noted that in collaborating with development
partners, Ghana would mobilize the necessary support to implement the
actions, document methodology and experiences and shared lessons to be
learnt with other countries. Mr Alex Asare of the Resource Management Support Centre of the
Forestry Commission in Kumasi reminded Ghanaians that forest resources
were irreplaceable and must therefore be protected.
Source: GhanaWeb
