By Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
Accra, Oct. 29, GNA – Ghana has been urged to leverage compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to create green jobs for young people and promote sustainable land management.
Professor Labode Papoola, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the African Forest Forum (AFF), said the regulation presented an opportunity to harness Africa’s growing youth population to advance sustainable agriculture and forestry.
He was speaking at a two-day national policy dialogue in Accra on Thursday, convened by the AFF in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Forestry Commission.
Africa’s youth population is projected to exceed 830 million by 2050, while its working-age population is expected to rise from 849 million in 2024 to 1.56 billion by 2050.
The EUDR requires exporters of cocoa, timber and other forest-related commodities to demonstrate that their products are not linked to deforestation.
It is scheduled to apply to large and medium-sized operators from December 30, 2026, and micro and small enterprises from June 30, 2027.
West Africa could lose up to US$11 billion in annual export revenue if producers fail to meet the requirements, with Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, among the countries most exposed.
Prof. Papoola said directing young people towards forestry and agriculture could support landscape restoration and sustainable development.
He said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) also offered opportunities to expand sustainable trade in forest products, urging policymakers to address power imbalances and ensure that reforms served the collective interest.
Dr Betty Annan, Country Director of AGRA, commended the Ghana Cocoa Board and the Forestry Commission for their progress in preparing the country for the regulation but cautioned that improved systems alone would not guarantee inclusion.
She said compliance costs, limited access to data and finance, and land tenure challenges could disadvantage smallholder farmers, women and young people.
Dr Annan said AGRA was supporting an AFF project in Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia to train 3,000 young people and women in business skills for deforestation-free supply chains and support more than 30 youth-led businesses.
She identified three priorities for the dialogue: developing a national road map with clear responsibilities, turning compliance requirements into business opportunities, and ensuring women and young farmers helped shape solutions.
Potential opportunities included traceability, data services, processing and green finance.
Dr Hugh Brown, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, said agricultural expansion, illegal mining and unsustainable logging continued to threaten Ghana’s forests.
He urged stakeholders to view the EUDR not merely as a compliance requirement but as an opportunity to modernise production systems, attract responsible investment and improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian products.
Dr Brown called for stronger coordination among the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Cocoa Board, the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure an effective national response.
He identified tree nursery development, agroforestry, cocoa rehabilitation, bamboo and rattan enterprises, and digital farm mapping as potential sources of youth employment.
Young people could also explore opportunities in satellite monitoring, geographic information systems and traceability, he said.
He outlined four priorities: strengthening forest governance, promoting inclusive traceability, mobilising sustainable finance and protecting the forest estate.
The dialogue comes amid youth unemployment of 32.5 per cent among people aged 15 to 24, representing more than 1.3 million young people.
It is expected to produce a national policy brief, recommendations for inclusive traceability systems and inputs for national EUDR compliance guidelines.
Dr Annan said the success of the process would depend on whether the resulting road map improved farmers’ livelihoods, created viable businesses, restored landscapes and generated decent jobs for young people.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Christiana Afua Nyarko,