Enhancing the institutionalization and transparency of forest data in Ghana

Ghana has established itself as a leader in the climate and forest agenda, implementing innovative programs such as the Ghana Cocoa Forest Programme and the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project. The country has made significant progress in accessing climate finance, becoming one of the first in Africa to propose emission reductions under global standards and expanding its role in international partnerships like the LEAF coalition.

To strengthen its forest monitoring efforts, Ghana conducted a comprehensive analysis of its national forest monitoring system (NFMS) using FAO’s NFMS assessment tool. This tool, developed under the project Building global capacity to increase transparency in the forest sector (CBIT-Forest), and based on international guidelines, helps countries evaluate strengths and weaknesses in key areas, such as institutional arrangements and technical capacities, providing an opportunity to develop a roadmap toward enhanced NFMS institutionalization, transparency and effectiveness.

In October 2023, under the FAO’s AIM4Forest programme funded by the UK Government, FAO experts reviewed Ghana's existing forest monitoring processes, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. A workshop held in November that year brought together stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, and universities, to refine and validate the assessment and develop a roadmap for action. The roadmap outlines strategies to improve coordination, build technical capacity, and establish policies for effective data sharing and archiving.

Key priorities for 2024 included:

1. Formalizing coordination among government agencies involved in forest monitoring to ensure clarity on roles and responsibilities. In 2024, the FAO team facilitated several in-country discussions between different government agencies to discuss the modalities for institutional collaboration and data sharing.
2. Enhancing remote sensing and data harmonization to address gaps in land use information. In 2024, an in-country workshop facilitated by FAO, established a consensus-driven work plan to develop a forest mask, with all the relevant national stakeholders collaborating on key steps.
3. Improving internal communication and public engagement to increase transparency and data accessibility. In 2024, FAO conducted a strategic analysis on the need for nesting in Ghana, which the Ghana Forestry Commission used to address double issuance issues within the REDD+ context.

To ensure long-term sustainability, the roadmap incorporates an exit strategy to make forest monitoring a core government function. This includes diversifying funding sources, building institutional resilience, and aligning staff development with capacity needs.

The assessment tool has been instrumental in guiding Ghana’s progress, helping to identify critical needs and tailor capacity-building efforts. These initiatives aim to create a sustainable, multi-purpose forest monitoring system that informs national priorities, supports climate action, and enables access to international climate finance.

“Ghana’s proactive engagement with the NFMS tool has strengthened our national forest monitoring capabilities. This process has helped us prioritize actions based on identified needs and gaps, ensuring alignment with our forest management strategies and climate goals.”  

Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Director of the Climate Change

Directorate/Ghana’s REDD+ Focal Point