Intensive Training For Over 200 Forestry Commission Field Staff Ends

The second batch of 205 Forestry Commission's (FC) field staff had ended a three-week intensive training session at the Military Training Camp at Asutuare.

The training is to equip them to help in the fight against the increasing wave of forest and wildlife crimes and to tackle illegal activities in protected forest reserves.

In all, the Forestry Commission plans to train about 1,000 field staff, made up of forest guards and range supervisors.

Already, 210 staff, made up of 200 forest guards and 10 range supervisors, participated in the first training session, bringing the number so far trained to 415.

Mr John Allotey, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, speaking at the closing ceremony of the capacity building and teamwork training for range supervisors and forest guards, urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained to enhance performance.

He said the field staffs were the pivot around which effective forest protection revolves and assured them of management's commitment to equip them with the necessary accoutrement to ensure effective delivery.

Mr Allotey said the training was aimed at improving the physical and mental strength of the participants and to update their skills in weapon handling, saying that, he was happy with the drills and discipline that was demonstrated.

In recent times, there have been several reported cases of poachers, illegal loggers and miners, either maiming or killing field staff of the Commission on patrol duties.

The field staff went through weapon handling and jungle military training, general forestry management, effective patrols, offence detection, mapping, physical training, intelligence work and information gathering, among others.

He pledged the Commission's commitment to provide all frontline staff with the necessary training and equipment to enable them to carry out their mandated duties effectively.

Mr Allotey expressed the hope that the skills they had acquired would put them on higher pedestal for effective forest protection.

He cautioned the personnel against acts that could bring the name of the Commission into disrepute and urged them not to apply the skills acquired to bully the members of the public.

He expressed his appreciation to the Ghana Armed Forces for the collaboration to ensure that the Commission achieved its vision to leave the future generations with more valuable forest and wildlife resources.

Lt Colonel Fifii Deegbe, Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment, said the participants performed creditably during the training and urged them to give good account of themselves when they go back to work.

He urged the team to use the skills acquired to enhance performance in order to justify the huge investment made in them.

The Participants were presented with certificates.
Present at the closing session was Brigadier General Oppong-Peprah, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command and executives of the Forestry Commission.

GNA