A one-year project aimed at building the capacity of forest stakeholders for smooth implementation and compliance of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) signed between the Government of Ghana and the European Union (EU) has been launched at Juaso in the Asante-Akim South District.
The VPA, signed in 2009, seeks to make sure that timber exported from Ghana to the international market come from legal sources.
Under the project, stakeholders drawn from 20 communities in four forest districts in the Ashanti Region are being sensitized on the agreement and forest law enforcement.
The EU is providing funding for its implementation by the Working Group on Forest Certification and the Rural Development Youth Association (RUDEYA), an NGO.
Mr Delle Kpebessan, Executive Director of RUDEYA, said it was important to help people in the forest fringe communities to have better understanding of laws governing forest management.
He said they needed to be assisted to become alive to their rights and responsibilities to protect the forest and its resources.
Mr Kpebessan said it was within the rights of the communities to insist on signing Social Responsibility Agreement (SRA) with timber firms which legally acquire concessions to operate in their areas.
They should also accept to cooperate with the companies.
Mr Seth Kissi, the District Forest Manager, said the project would significantly help to promote sustainable forest management.
He stated that about 65,000 hectares of forests are lost annually due to activities of illegal chainsaw operators.
Mr De-graft Forkuo, the District Chief Executive, urged stakeholders to do more to safeguard the nation's forest reserves.