There has been a massive shake-up at the Forestry Commission, with the movement of all sixteen (16) Regional Managers of the Forest Services Division of the Commission, and the reassignment of the Executive Director of the Forest Services Division, Hugh C. Brown, as an Advisor on Forestry to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

These changes are said to be in line with Government’s policy to ensure dynamism and focus at the Forestry Commission, particularly the Forest Services Division which supports Government’s flagship afforestation and reforestation programme, and in order to ensure efficient management and use of the country's forest resources.

The Forest Services Division is one of the Divisions of the Forestry Commission, responsible for the development, protection and management of the country’s forest resources. It is also responsible for the development of forest plantation and the regulation of the harvesting of forest resources.

The constant depletion of the nation’s forest resources has been of a major concern.

Last year, Government launched the Green Ghana Project as part of an aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme, to restore the country’s lost forest cover and contribute to halting climate change. According to the Forestry Commission, at the maiden edition, over seven million trees were planted on the Green Ghana Day and over twenty-two million trees were planted at this year’s Green Ghana Day.  

The reassignment of Mr. Brown to the Ministry as an Advisor to the Minister is to ensure that the Ministry follows through with its aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme.

Mr. Brown is said to have enormous experience in forest plantation, having served as the Director of Operations for Plantation at the Forestry Commission before being appointed as the Executive Director of the Forest Services Division. A certified forester with over twenty-eight (28) years working experience, Mr. Brown also has expertise in the management forestry projects. Mr. Brown’s new role is expected to bring focus to the Ministry’s afforestation programme and several other projects being implemented to restore the nation’s lost forest cover and contribute to global climate action.

The movement of the Regional Managers has also resulted in Joseph Bempah moving from Western North to Greater Accra, Stephen Asamoah Duah from Upper West to Western North, Bosompem Poku     from Eastern to Ahafo and Augustine Gyedu from Ashanti to Bono. Mr. Clement A. Omari moves from Western to Ashanti, while Michael Paintsil moves from Central to Western; and Lucy Amoh Ntim moves from Bono East to Savannah, as Dickson Adjei Sekyi moves from Oti to Bono East.

The rest are Isaac Noble Eshun, from Bono to Eastern, Bernard Tabil from Northern to Oti, Bright Manso-Howard from Volta to North East, Ahmed Nsiah Bempah from North East to Northern, Emmanuel Yeboah from Upper East to Volta, Sintim Yabbey from Savannah to Upper East and Bennet Ntiamoah from Ahafo to Central Regions.

Finally, Godfred Quashigah, the Assistant Regional Manager for Ahanti Region moves to Upper West Region as the Regional Manager.

According to Government officials, the movement of the Regional Managers is also aimed at bringing dynamism to the work of the Commission and to ensure that the Commission delivers on its mandate to protect and manage the forest resources of our country.