The Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) Congress has been opened in Accra with a call on business entities to join hands in their quest to develop a business approach in preserving forestry reserves in the country.
Recognising the lead role played by businesses in the economy, there is the need to get more business organisations to share in the LCA’s vision to sustain and transform natural reserves by integrating businesses with the idea of conversation.
Speaking at the opening of the congress, the Vice-President of Gold Fields Ghana, Mr Alfred Baku, said efforts to get businesses to partner the LCA to preserve reserves was a laudable initiative as “businesses can join hands in conservation to share ideas and resources to help give birth to new ideas of conversation” which will help the LCA to realise its vision.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Henry Ford Kamel, in his address, pledged the government’s commitment to ensuring conservation of forestry reserves in the country and commended the LCA for such an initiative to develop forest reserves in the country.
He hinted the forum of the government’s wood legislation to make purchase of wood mandatory from only recognised and certified government agencies in the country which is part of measures to curb illegal felling and sale of wood in the country.
The minister also added that efforts by the LCA to transform the Shai Hills into a tourist destination is impressive, considering the number of employment that will be created for the youth if these reserves are transformed and made profitable.
“Over the years, government was able to create employment for about 28,000 people by developing 22,000 hectares of land. If the LCA is going to develop three major reserves in the country, it will help reduce high unemployment rate currently facing the youth.” he noted.
Presenting an overview of the LCA and its Business- led conservation ideology in West Africa, Mr Chris Marais, said measures have been put in place to undertake tourism- related investments for Shai Hills Resource Reserve, Cape Three Points Forest Reserve and Mole National Park through Public Private Partnerships.
He added that the group, in partnership with the Forestry Commission in Ghana, as well as International and National Business leaders, will undertake these developments in conservation, while involving the community. The strategies to be used will focus on developing a business plan, securing a 24-month mandate from government and finally implement the plan.
Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) is an African based initiative introduced in August 2006, aiming to protect and develop 20 million hectares of conservation land in Africa by 2020. It currently operates in African countries such as Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of Congo, The Gambia,
Tanzania and Uganda. The LCA was founded in Ghana in collaboration with the Forestry Commission and Gold Fields Ghana Ltd, with support from Veolia Water Solutions.
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