The Forestry Commission has commissioned ten Forest Protection Camps and two checkpoint facilities at Numereso in the Ashanti Region, under the UK-Ghana Forest Governance Partnership, in a major step aimed at strengthening the protection of Ghana’s forest reserves.
Speaking at the handing-over and commemorative inauguration ceremony yesterday , the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, said the initiative marks a significant milestone in efforts to combat illegal logging, illegal mining (galamsey), forest encroachment, and other environmental crimes threatening Ghana’s forest resources.
He noted that the partnership between the Government of Ghana and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), signed in December last year, is focused on strengthening institutional capacity, improving forest governance, and enhancing operational efficiency of the Commission.
According to him, the provision of logistics, operational support, and ongoing legal and institutional review under the partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable forest management and environmental protection.
Dr. Brown described the inauguration of the camps as a “bold statement of intent” by government and its partners to translate policy into action in the fight against forest degradation.
He explained that the new protection camps represent a shift from the traditional forest patrol system to a more proactive, permanent on-site security approach, where officers will operate in coordinated teams within forest reserves.
“This development marks a paradigm shift in forest protection, from isolated patrols to strengthened team-based operations within the reserves. There is strength and synergy in numbers,” he said.
Dr. Brown expressed concern over the increasing sophistication of illegal mining and logging operations, noting that offenders now deploy heavy machinery, communication equipment, and organized networks, sometimes resisting enforcement teams.
He warned that such activities continue to pose serious threats to water bodies, biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and national development, citing widespread degradation in several forest regions including Ashanti, Western, Ahafo, and Bono.
He further indicated that continuous presence of officers in forest reserves will significantly improve surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response to illegal activities and wildfires.
Dr. Brown also disclosed that the Forestry Commission faces a significant staffing gap, with a shortage of over 2,500 resource guards, which he said continues to strain enforcement efforts.
He therefore called for increased recruitment, improved logistics, capacity building, and enhanced welfare support for forestry personnel.
He emphasized that effective forest protection requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, security agencies, the judiciary, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the media, and local communities.
“Forest protection cannot be the responsibility of the Forestry Commission alone. It requires collective action and shared responsibility,” he stressed.
The UK Acting Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Terri Sarch, government officials, security representatives, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders attended the ceremony.
The newly commissioned facilities are expected to enhance enforcement operations, improve coordination among stakeholders, and strengthen Ghana’s efforts to safeguard its forest reserves for future generations.
