The Forestry Commission Training Centre (FCTC) has marked a major milestone with the graduation of its first cohort under the Certificate in Natural Resources Management (CNRM) programme, reaffirming its role in building skilled manpower for Ghana’s forestry and natural resources sector.
A total of sixty-seven (67) students successfully completed the intensive 18-month programme during the 2024/2025 academic year, addressing a long-standing gap in middle-level technical expertise within the sector.
The CNRM programme was introduced to restore a critical training pathway that was lost when the former Sunyani School of Forestry was upgraded into the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in 2011. In response, the Forestry Commission transformed the erstwhile Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC) into the Forestry Commission Training Centre in 2014, expanding its mandate to train professionals across the forestry value chain. The programme is implemented in collaboration with the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), which acts as the affiliating institution, providing academic supervision, ensuring quality assurance, and awarding the final certificates.
Designed to be both rigorous and practice-oriented, the curriculum equips students with essential skills in sustainable forest and wildlife management, forest mensuration, plantation development, GPS and GIS applications, wood processing, natural resource law and policy, and climate change reporting and monitoring. A defining feature of the programme is its strong practical component, with students undertaking field-based training at Brosankro near the Tenti Bepo Forest Reserve, as well as at the Mole National Park, to ensure real-world exposure and hands-on experience.
Of the graduating cohort comprising fifty-one (51) males and sixteen (16) females, twenty-one (21) students earned distinctions for outstanding academic performance. Exceptional students were further honoured with the Chief Executive’s Best Student Awards, with Mr. Asante Awiti Daniel emerging as Overall Best Student and Best Male Student with a Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) of 3.91, while Miss Twumwaa Leticia received the Best Female Student award with an FGPA of 3.74.
Speaking to the award recipients, they described their time at the FCTC as a rewarding and enriching experience, highlighting the professionalism and dedication of the lecturers, whom they said were patient, receptive, and always willing to support students in overcoming academic challenges. They also commended the Centre for being well equipped with the tools and facilities required for effective practical and field-based training.
Sharing his personal reflections, Mr. Awiti Asante, the Overall Best Student, said that the Certificate Programme had been a life-changing experience. “The programme served as an eye-opener for me, revealing the critical role forests play in human survival. It has placed me in a better position to educate others on the importance of forest and wildlife conservation,” he stated.
Looking to the future, Management of the FCTC has announced plans to position the Centre as a regional Centre of Excellence for forestry and natural resource training. Key initiatives include opening admissions to students from across the West African sub-region, upgrading the current certificate programme to a diploma-level qualification, and strengthening stakeholder partnerships. The Centre has also called on industry players and development partners to support a proposed training reserve fund and to provide modern forestry logistics to enhance training delivery and accommodate growing enrolment.
“Our graduating students have acquired excellent technical knowledge and skills that will contribute significantly to the sustainability of Ghana’s forest resources,” Management stated, underscoring FCTC’s commitment to shaping the next generation of professionals dedicated to responsible natural resource management