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The Forestry Commission (FC) intends to train and equip about 1,000 field staff to help in the fight against forest and wildlife crimes and to tackle illegal activities in protected forest reserves.

Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie noted that there have been several reported cases of poachers, illegal loggers and miners who have maimed or even killed staff of the commission, and all that happen because some of the field staff lack requisite skills and ammunition to defend themselves.

He posited that no longer will staff of the commission lose their lives because they were protecting the nation’s natural resources, which is of high benefit to the current and unborn generations.

Owusu-Afriyie gave this assurance in a speech read on his behalf during the closing ceremony of a three-week capacity building and teamwork training for range supervisors and forest guards.

The intensive capacity building and teamwork training sessions at the Military Training Camp at Asutsuare was the second phase of a series of training to be offered to forest guards.

In all, 205 staff, made up of seven females, participated in the three-week intensive training session. They went through weapon handling, navigation, external resource lectures, unarmed combat, minor tactics, jungle military training, general forestry management, effective patrols, offence detection, mapping, physical training, intelligence work and information gathering, among others.

Owusu-Afriyie said the training was aimed at improving the physical and mental strength of the participants and to update their skills in weapon handling.

He expressed the hope that the skills they had acquired would put them on a pedestal for effective forest protection.

He noted that the field staff were the pivot around which effective forest protection revolves, adding that it would be very difficult for them to work with outmoded weapons, which cannot match that of the illegal operators.

He also 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.

Owusu-Afriyie cautioned the personnel against acts that could bring the name of the commission into disrepute, and also expressed his appreciation to the Ghana Armed Forces for the collaboration to ensure that the commission achieved its vision to leave future generations with more valuable forest and wildlife resources.

Lt. Colonel Fiifi Deegbe, Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment, said the army was resolved to support the Forestry Commission to ensure the future sustainability of the country’s natural resources.

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 later presented with certificates.