The Forestry Commission (FC) has organized a sensitization and awareness creation to mark the celebration of International Day of Forest 2025 at Danfa Methodist Church in the Greater Accra Region. The event brought together Basic and Junior High Schools along Ayi Mensah and Amrahia stretch to learn about the works of FC, the causes and effects of deforestation, the importance of reforestation and wildlife conservation.
The schools included Ayi Mensah, Kweiman primary and Junior High School, Danfa Methodist Basic, Otinibi and Aisha Bintu Basic schools.
The Assistant Headteacher of Danfa Methodist Basic School, Mr Kenneth Apawo in his welcome address, expressed his excitement about the event and its importance. He stated that, the sensitization and awareness creation will educate the pupils on the role of Forestry Commission and the importance of forests.
The Acting Chief Executive of FC, Dr Hugh Brown, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Corporate Affairs and Media Relations Manager, Mrs Joyce Ofori Kwafo, the International Day of Forests which is celebrated annually was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of forest, trees, wildlife and the planet. This year’s celebrations which falls on March 21 with the theme “Forests and Food”. She mentioned that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and FC decided to target the youth in the awareness creation as they are the future leaders. The knowledge acquired will help all pupils who are the future policy makers to make the rightful decisions in preserving the forest landscape of the country. “Forests in Ghana have come under severe attacks over these years, due to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, illegal farming, illegal felling of trees, bushfires and poaching of wild animals. These actions, she stated lead to forest degradation and deforestation. She urged the general public to plants trees birthdays, graduation, anniversaries and other milestone days to commemorate those events.
On Friday, March 21, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, will launch the Tree for Life Restoration Initiative at Nkawie in the Ashanti Region she added.
During the event, there were featured informative presentations and talks from some staffs of the commission. Public Relations Officer, Madam Eunice Nsiah, in her presentation, spoke about the Forestry Commission, highlighting the vision, mission, and functions of the Commission. She added by explaining the responsibilities of each of the units in the Forestry Commission. Mr Abdul Karim Awal, the current record Guiness World Record holder for hugging a tree for 24 hours non stop breaking the previous record 16 hours 6 second. He launched a campaign, ‘A Minute for a Tree’, He collaborated with the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to plant 1,461.
Public Relations Officer for Wildlife Division, Mr Martin Luther Otu, gave a presentation on the functions of the wildlife division in the Forestry Commission. In his presentation he addressed the need for us to conserve our forest and protect the wildlife.
Mr Isaac Andoh an officer from the Climate Change Department, in delivering his presentation mentioned how climate change is affecting agriculture, explained that farmers rely on predictable weather patterns, but due to changing climates it disrupt these patterns. He added that, the Forestry Commission is implementing a forest plantation strategy, that is planting more trees so that these trees will take away all greenhouse emission from the atmosphere.
Public Relations Officer for Forest Service Division, Madam Luisatu Fuseini, made a presentation on International Day of Forest. Emphasizing on the theme ‘Forest and food’, she addressed the need for forest to be conserved and highlighted the benefits of forest to human and our environment.