Accra: The second batch of Community Forest Monitors have begun training on a project aimed at promoting transparency and strengthening public oversight on Ghana's forests.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative, known as 'The Akofena Project,' seeks to enhance civil society participation, community engagement, and government accountability in forest governance systems in Ghana and Liberia. It is designed to support legal timber trade and bolster multi-stakeholder collaboration in alignment with the United Kingdom Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme.
Named after the Ghana Adinkra symbol 'Akofena' (Sword of War), which represents authority, courage, unity, and responsibility, the project aims to reinforce state responsibility for forest protection while empowering communities to demand accountability. The four-year initiative is implemented locally by non-governmental organisations, EcoCare Ghana and Civic Response, with support from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Speaking at the opening in Accra, Ms. Evlyn Addor, Communication Officer, EcoCare Ghana, stated that the sessions would equip selected community members with knowledge and practical skills needed to monitor forest activities within Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) areas. She emphasized that sustainable forest governance requires not only effective laws and institutions but also active citizen involvement, particularly from forest fringe communities whose livelihoods are directly affected by forest management decisions.
The training targets communities across five forest districts in the Ashanti, Central, and Western regions. Participants will learn to collect and report information on forest activities using monitoring tools and digital applications developed to support independent forest monitoring. This initiative follows community engagements and scoping exercises conducted by EcoCare Ghana, in collaboration with the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission, which highlighted concerns regarding illegal logging, transparency in timber harvesting operations, benefit-sharing arrangements, and access to information related to Social Responsibility Agreements (SRAs).
Implementers noted that the project would complement existing forest governance structures and support Ghana's forest governance reforms. Mr. Enoch Okeyere, Project Manager, underscored the importance of SRAs and the role of independent forest monitoring in promoting accountability and sustainable forest management in Ghana. He expressed optimism that the project would lead to a significant reduction in illegal logging and increased participation of non-state actors in forest law enforcement and oversight.
The project employs a governance-focused approach built on community-led monitoring, strengthening civil society capacity, collaboration with law enforcement, strategic advocacy, and regional knowledge sharing.