By Patrick Biddah
The Minister For Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has hinted of the need for sophisticated training of young men to be employed as forest guards.
The training of these young men, is to equip them with the requisite weapons, in order to function effectively at their duty post.
Aside from equipping them adequately to function, the training is geared towards replacing “rusted ‘old guards who are unable to live up to expectation due to the advancement in their age.
The Minister, dropped this hint on Wednesday April 9, 2025, when he paid a working visit to the Forestry Commission to meet with management and staff.
The Minister, who spoke on a wide range of issues, including improving welfare of the workers, indicated that the overall aim of this idea, is to provide employment to the teeming Ghanaian youth and better their living conditions.
According to the Minister, the end game of this training is to further make the forest reserves a no-go area for thugs who perpetrate illegality by engaging in unlawful logging, lumbering as well as mining.
On the issue of the Executive Instrument which degazzated parts of the Achimota forest for use, he said a review of the process is ongoing, but while at it , he personally feel the Achimota forest must not be touched.
“The forestry and the plantations are critical for the survival of mankind and for that we will see to ensuring that all forest reserves are reclaimed “, he assured.
Since taking office, he recounted how his office has retrieved and taken full control of seven out of nine forest reserves which were under the command and control of heavily weaponized thugs.
During open forum, the Minister mooted the idea for the Forestry Commission to start looking at how to go commercial with aspects of their operations which forms the first step towards generating internal revenue and weaning itself from government payroll.
The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle in the Western region, cited an example of creating a furniture manufacturing company by the Commission for the purposes of revenue generation for internal use.