Madam Akosua Pokua Boakye, the Programme Officer for Resource Conservation Initiative (RESCONI), says forests remain vital to Ghana’s economy and the livelihoods of millions of people.
She said the forestry sector continued to play a significant role in national development through job creation, export earnings and support for rural livelihoods.
The Programme Officer was speaking at the 2026 commemoration of the International Day of Forests, organised by RESCONI with student-led awareness activities.
Madam Boakye noted that globally, forests supported over 1.6 billion people and hosted more than 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity, underscoring their importance to both economic resilience and ecological stability.
“In Ghana, the forestry sector contributes significantly to employment and export earnings, supporting over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs,” she added.
She stressed that non-timber forest products such as mushrooms, medicinal plants, bushmeat and fuelwood provided income, nutrition and healthcare for many rural households, making forests indispensable to community livelihoods.
The Programme Officer explained that Ghana’s economy, which relied heavily on natural resources and rain-fed agriculture, was closely linked to the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems.
As part of the commemoration, RESCONI, in collaboration with the Renewable Natural Resources Students Association of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), organised an inter-programme quiz competition and media engagement activities to promote knowledge sharing and public awareness.
The competition brought together students from Forest Resource Technology, Natural Resource Management and Environmental Science to deepen their understanding of forestry, climate change and sustainable resource management.
Tahiru Saani, a third-year student from Forest Resource Technology, said the activities had strengthened awareness of the economic importance of forests and encouraged active youth participation in conservation efforts.
At the end of the competition, Forest Resource Technology emerged winners, receiving GH₵700, learning materials and certificates, while Natural Resource Management placed second with GH₵300, and Environmental Science received educational materials and certificates.
RESCONI reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, capacity building and youth-driven advocacy, and called on stakeholders to support sustainable forest management to safeguard forest resources for future generations.
By Edward Dankwah, GNA