The Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) has orgainised a 3-day Performance Review Meeting for Park, Site and Zoo Managers, together with Management Staff of the Division at the Forestry Commission Training Center (FCTC), Kumasi.
The meeting ,led by the Executive Director (ED) of the Division, Mr. Bernard Asamoah Boateng , and the Director for Stakeholder and Ecotourism, Dr. Richard Gyimah, was to review the Division’s 2022 performance, consider outlooks/targets for 2023 and validate revised Field Operations and Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) manuals.
The workshop was graced by the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission (FC), Mr John Allotey, Director HR, Mrs Anne Brown , and the Director of FCTC, Hon. Andy Osei Okrah.
Mr. Bernard Asamoah Boateng congratulated staff for their hard work during the year 2022 and said Law Enforcement, Education, Ecotourism and Community Collaboration initiatives and metrics went so well last year.
He mentioned that the purpose of the meeting was to preview the previous year’s target, identify the challenges and find alternative ways to improve operations of the Division. He added that, it was important for WD to put together a CREMA manual that will help regulate existing and upcoming CREMAs.
The Chief Executive, Mr. John Allotey , commended the Wildlife Division for being proactive in organising such a meeting early in the year.
He pointed out the Division’s key concern which is poaching , and suggested that ways of dealing with the phenomenon should be reviewed in the upcoming operation manual and staff trained accordingly. He also indicated that, the Commission has secured the necessary tools for the fight against poachers in the various Wildlife Protected Areas.
Mr. Allotey emphasised that, WD should step up its media engagements so that the public would understand thier activities and contributions to the Commission.
Another area he highlighted on was revenue generation. He said there can be a progressive change by improving ecotourism facilities in the various PAs and pursuing the creation of mini zoos for hotels, resorts, homes and other facilities.
“WD will handle the inspection of the facilities, set criteria suitable for breeding, structures for keeping the animals and certification”, he explained.
Mr. Andy Okrah, the Director of FCTC appreciated WD leadership for choosing FCTC as the venue for the Appraisal Workshop. He said such meetings offer valuable opportunities to assess efforts made and identify key challenges facing the Division in the conservation of Ghana’s key species.
Touching on the two operational manuals to be validated, the FCTC Director said that, the revised CREMA manual is expected to make the establishment of CREMAs in the country more sustainable than it used to be . This is an important way of promoting natural resources, utilization and sustainability in our protected areas, which is a key to collaborative resources management and also to promote protected areas security”, he added.
Mr. Okrah also mentioned that, the revised Field Operation Manual will further promote an effective law enforcement regime that has largely kept the resources of our protected areas intact.
He explained that, WD and FCTC serve as a cash cow for the Commission and urged WD to develop workable strategies to increase revenue generation. He explained how FCTC has adopted a 3+1 strategy towards being more profitable, visible, and skillful with the right culture (attitude change) in order to improve the Centre’s fortunes.
Mr. Okrah disclosed that the Commission has been given approval by the Technical and Vocational Education Training (CTVET) to run a certification program in Furniture Making at FCTC. In addition , FCTC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Natural Resource Management (UERN). He said the partnership with the University means FCTC will be adding on training programs in management and some specialist courses in Wildlife Management.
The HR Director, Mrs Anne Brown, said she was happy to join the WD in its maiden meeting for the year and encouraged managers to appraise all their staff to support HR ‘s quest towards staff development (training and promotion).
She also briefed them on the Tier 2 Pension Scheme and advised staff to check their statements regularly. Additionally, she addressed welfare issues pertaining to the various PAs