The Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources has urged the government, through the Ministry of Finance, to urgently grant financial clearance for the recruitment of additional forest guards to strengthen the protection of forest reserves and natural resources.
During a working visit to the Senanyayo Forest Reserve and Offin Shelter Belt Reserve, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Collins Dauda, expressed concern over the persistent shortage of staff and logistics hampering the Forestry Commission’s effectiveness.
Mr. Dauda, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, said the challenges facing the Commission are well known and require immediate action.
He noted that through the efforts of the Chief Executive Officer and management, 10 pilot forest protection camps have been established, with seven located in the Ashanti Region.
These camps, he said, are intended to house guards who would protect reserves from illegal chainsaw operators and illegal miners.
He stated that one thing is clear – forests are renewable, but they require deliberate policies to be replenished the reason he commended President John Dramani Mahama’s government for introducing the Tree for Life initiative, aimed at restoring forests across the country.
He stressed that current methods of protecting forests are not yielding the desired results and called for a change in approach.
According to him, the taskforce concept was currently not working because forest reserves of over 6,000 acres are being guarded by only six forest guards.
Mr. Dauda revealed that a request by the Forestry Commission to the Ministry of Finance for financial clearance to recruit more guards has remained unattended for a long time.
He appealed to the Ministry of Finance to act quickly and grant the clearance. He added that without enough personnel, “we cannot effectively fight illegal activities”.
The Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Mr Kwabena Adu Bonnah, said plantation establishment in degraded areas had been difficult because of illegal logging, chainsaw operations and mining.
He explained that the reintroduction of forest protection camps had improved security in some areas previously considered high-risk.
He revealed that the region needed an additional 205 staff to effectively manage its reserves and called for strategic deployment of personnel to curb illegal activities.
Mr. Kwasi Konadu, Member of Parliament for Manhyia North and Deputy Ranking Member on the Committee, said the government must prioritise the recruitment of forest guards.
According to him, when the numbers are adequate, patrols would improve and guards will be better able to ward off miscreants in the forest reserves.
The Committee reiterated the need for a national effort to protect existing forest reserves and restore degraded ones through initiatives such as Tree for Life and public-private partnerships.
