The Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Dr. Kwame Antwi Oduro, has called on the government and relevant authorities to ensure strict enforcement of policies and laws governing forest reserves.
Speaking during his investiture on the 17th of April, 2024 at Fumesua, Dr. Kwame Oduro said, “In terms of coming out with policies, management strategies, the government is doing enough, together with other collaborators/stakeholders. The challenge has been with the enforcement, and the enforcement because largely if you look at the numbers they have, for example, policing the forest, implementing the rules and regulations on the ground, sometimes they don’t have the men/numbers.”
The newly sworn-in director, citing deforestation and illegal mining activities as major threats to Ghana’s forest cover, admonished the government to collaborate with non-governmental organizations, institutions, and the media to combat the menace.
“To address these challenges, one of the measures is collaboration. Work with NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, Research Institutions, engage the media, and citizens. The media has so much power; what is said on TV or radio goes more than what one may say, so engaging the media to make public what the government is doing to protect our forest resources will go a long way to help us address these challenges.”
Dr. Kwame Oduro highlighted that he will lead the strengthening of the Scientific Secretary Office and work closely with the media to sensitize the public on the value of Ghana’s forests.
He also mentioned that he will continue to work with his team to present strategies and develop proposals for the Forestry Commission to implement.
CSIR-FORIG is one of the institutions that undertake demand-driven research, build capacity, and promote the application of technologies for sustainable management of Ghana’s forest resources for the benefit of society.
Ghana’s efforts in combating climate change may not yield expected results if the issue of deforestation is not addressed.
Research has shown that trees and forests contribute significantly to trapping carbon, which is a major contributing factor to the climate crisis. The recurrent issue of forest degradation and illegal mining has thus become a major worry for stakeholders.
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