The Forestry Commission Training Centre (FCTC) has held its third matriculation ceremony for the 2026 cohort admitted to the Certificate in Natural Resources Management (CNRM) Programme.
The FCTC, located at Akyawkrom, Ejisu in the Ashanti Region and affiliated with the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, matriculated 84 students into the 18-month Programme. The ceremony brought together traditional leaders, members of the Forestry Commission (FC) Board, Executive Management, some UENR faculty from the School of Natural Resources , some faculty from the FCTC and staff of FC, as well as representatives from the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG).
Welcoming the gathering, the Chief Executive of Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce to sustainably manage Ghana’s forest and wildlife resources. He described the Programme, established through a Memorandum of Understanding between the FC and UENR in 2023, as a strategic investment in strengthening the technical capacity required to deliver the FC’s expanding mandate in forest governance, biodiversity conservation, landscape restoration and national reforestation.
Highlighting the Commission’s recent achievements, Dr. Brown cited the planting of more than 30 million tree seedlings under the 2025 Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative. He also noted that Ghana became the first country in Africa to issue the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences for legally verified timber exports to the European Union, and has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining and other environmental crimes within forest reserves and protected areas.
He disclosed that the CNRM Programme has enrolled 232 students since its inception, with the Commission subsidising approximately 60 per cent of tuition fees for the current cohort while investing in field equipment to enhance practical training. He also announced that the FC is fully sponsoring the tuition and accommodation of nine staff members in the current cohort. He revealed that 50 graduates from the past intakes have already been engaged by the Commission on contract basis, pending financial clearance for permanent employment. Congratulating the newly admitted students, he urged them to remain disciplined, committed and dedicated to their studies.
Representing the Registrar of UENR, the Deputy Registrar and Head of Human Resource, Mr. Hayford Asare, explained that the matriculation ceremony formally admitted the students into the University’s academic community. He noted that, in accordance with the University’s statutes, all students pursuing certificate and undergraduate Programmes are required to take the matriculation oath and sign the matriculation register, affirming their commitment to uphold the University’s rules, study diligently and promote its values. He subsequently administered the matriculation oath and supervised the signing of the register.
Delivering the address on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of UENR, Prof. Elvis Asare Bediako, Prof. Daniel Akoto Sarfo, Dean, School of Natural Resources at UENR, congratulated the students and described the programme as a timely response to the growing demand for competent technical personnel in the natural resources sector. “This competency-based programme combines classroom instruction with extensive field training to equip students with the practical knowledge, technical expertise and ethical values needed to address challenges such as illegal logging, wildfires, illegal mining, land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss”, he stated. He encouraged the students to embrace integrity, professionalism and environmental stewardship while assuring them of UENR’s commitment to maintaining high academic standards through its partnership with the Forestry Commission.
The Acting Director of the FCTC, Mr. Richard K. Ninnoni, Esq., reiterated that the programme was established to bridge the Commission’s technical human resource gap and continues to receive increasing public interest. He revealed that 84 students were admitted from 185 applicants for the 2026 academic year, including a record 34 females, representing 40 per cent of the cohort. He appealed for government and stakeholder support towards the acquisition of a dedicated bus for the Training Centre and the construction of hostel facilities to strengthen practical field training and improve student welfare. He also admonished the students to uphold discipline and strive for excellence throughout the programme.
On behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, his Technical Advisor, Prof. Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma, delivered the Minister’s address. He commended FC for initiating the Programme to address the shortage of frontline technical personnel required for sustainable forest and wildlife management. He observed that illegal logging, illegal mining, bushfires, biodiversity loss and climate change continue to threaten Ghana’s natural resources, underscoring the need for a technically competent workforce. Prof. Kuma noted that the Programme aligns with the Government’s job creation agenda. He further disclosed that the Ministry is collaborating with the Commission and the Ministry of Finance to secure financial clearance for the permanent employment of programme graduates and pledged support for the proposed acquisition of a bus and construction of hostel facilities.
Bringing the ceremony to a close, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Programme’s Technical Training Committee, Prof. William Oduro, reminded the students that natural resource management is fundamentally about stewardship. “Humanity has a divine responsibility to protect and sustainably manage the environment rather than exploit it”, he stressed. He challenged them to become agents of positive change by promoting responsible environmental practices and helping to reverse the destructive activities that threaten Ghana’s natural resources. Finally, Prof. Oduro expressed appreciation to the distinguished guests and all stakeholders for their continued support, while encouraging the students to build strong professional relationships and take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the Programme.
