Project/activity information

Ghana is recognized as one of the countries with beautifully crafted forest laws and legislation in Africa. However, ineffective forest law enforcement and the consequent non-compliance undermine the rule of law, reinforce forest level corruption and represent major threats to the forest ecosystems and the associated biodiversity in Ghana. Ineffective forest law enforcement also threatens the livelihoods of local communities and undermines the efforts of both private and public sector organizations to develop sustainable approaches to forest management. It is acknowledged that civil society organizations and other non-state actors can play a critical role in ensuring effective forest law enforcement in Ghana. However, civil society and other non-state actors in the country have insufficient knowledge of the established models of legality and sustainability requirements as well as practical forest operations along the timber supply chain. In addition, civil society organizations’ knowledge of modern tools of engagement with forest authorities leaves much to be desired. This makes it nearly impossible for civil society and other non-state actors to play the watchdog role effectively. This intervention is intended to build capacity of civil society organizations and other non-state actors on established models of legality and sustainability requirements, modern tools of engagement and to raise interest of the general public in forest law enforcement so as to widen compliance with and enforcement of forest laws in the country. The intervention which will be implemented in the forest zone of Ghana will emphasize a paradigm shift to a proactive civil society that is ready to defend the rights of the poor and to ensure that responsible forest management is not unduly sacrificed