The Forestry Commission (FC) has held a debate competition as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Forests (IDF), reinforcing its commitment to environmentally conscious education and youth engagement.

The event, held at the FC Auditorium, brought together students from the University of Ghana, Legon (UG) and the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) for a compelling intellectual exchange on the motion “The Economic Value of Forests Should be Measured Solely in Terms of Timber and Non-Timber Forest Products”. This topic aligns with the IDF 2026 theme, “Forests and Economies.”

UPSA , represented by Richard Graham, ⁠Kelvin Ofosu and Sika Paadi Naa spoke against the motion while UG, also represented by Andrew Kwasi Kattah , Adeleye Temiloluwa Abundance and Woelorm Agbedanu spoke for it.

In his opening address, the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, underscored the significance of forests beyond their economic value, highlighting their indispensable role in sustaining human lives and ecological balance. He stressed on the urgency of protecting forest resources and noted that IDF activities are deliberately designed to educate and instil a sense of environmental responsibility, particularly among young people.

Dr. Brown further explained that the debate topic was carefully selected to challenge participants to examine the multifaceted contributions of forests to society. He commended the participating institutions, their coaches, the panel of judges, the planning committee, and the Corporate Affairs and Media Relations team for their efforts in ensuring the success of the programme.

The competition was adjudicated by a distinguished panel comprising Mr. Francis Sylvester Amoah, a retired accomplished forester; Prof. Mercy Afua Derkyi, Director, Quality Assurance & Academic Planning, School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani and Prof. Kwame Oduro, Director of the Forest Research Institute, Kumasi. The panel outlined the rules of the competition and encouraged participants to present well-structured, evidence-based arguments within the stipulated guidelines.

The debate unfolded in three rounds, followed by a final session for summaries and conclusions, with each team fielding three speakers. After a closely contested exchange, UPSA emerged victorious with 81 points, narrowly edging UG, which scored 78 points.

Both teams were recognised for their outstanding performances with each speaker receiving Samsung tablets, certificates of participation, plaques, and branded souvenirs from the Forestry Commission. The winning team was additionally awarded a cash prize of GHS 20,000, while UG, as first runner-up, received GHS 15,000.

The debate formed part of the FC’s broader efforts to deepen public understanding of the critical link between forests and sustainable economic development. By engaging young minds in meaningful discourse, the Commission continues to nurture a generation of environmentally conscious leaders equipped to champion forest conservation and sustainable resource management in Ghana and beyond.