As part of his working visits to get to know the Ministry’s agencies, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, met with the Forest Plantation Development Fund (FPDF) Board to evaluate their operational activities and talk about how to strengthen their mandate in accordance with the government’s reset agenda.
The Fund Board Secretariat’s efforts to promote the development of forest plantations were commended by Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah during the meeting with management and staff on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
In order to increase the country’s forest cover, he underlined the significance of coordinating their operations with the government’s more general environmental goals.
“I believe the objectives of the Fund Board are relevant, and the new administration will revisit its affairs to make it more effective,” he stated.
The Secretariat’s Technical Officer, Mr. Jason Nunoo, gave the visiting team an update on the Board’s activities, difficulties, and suggested solutions.
He emphasized urgent problems such as the ongoing decline in main source funding, inadequate oversight of disbursed monies, and the Secretariat’s poor structure.
He pointed out that in order to guarantee the Fund Board’s sustainability, these need the Ministry’s immediate attention.
“By implementing recommendations, including increased funding and strengthened monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, the FPDF can enhance its impact and contribute to Ghana’s broader environmental and economic goals,” Mr. Nunoo added.
In a media interview, Hon. Yusif Sulemana, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, promised that the new Board would handle issues brought up by management, including paying off debts for seedlings purchased for earlier Green Ghana Day events.
In order to examine the Fund Board’s mission and formally create it as a Ministry agency, he also emphasized the necessity of amending the controlling Act 623.
The FPDF, which was created by Act 583 of 2000 and revised by Act 623 in 2002, offers funding for the establishment of private forest plantations on properties that are appropriate for the production of commercial timber.
The Fund also provides technical assistance and research to those involved in commercial plantation forestry.
Source: newsthemegh.com