By Kwabia Owusu-Mensah, GNA
Fumesua (Ash), Nov. 06, GNA – ECOCARE, a forest and environmental advocacy organization, is building the capacities of Civic Society Organisations (CSOs) to strengthen their participation in the auditing processes of the Timber Validation Department (TVD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) of Ghana.
The initiative, which is being implemented under the ‘Holding power Accountable in Forest Governance through Citizen Action’ (Akofena Project), aims at equipping the CSOs with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to participate meaningfully in TVD audits as independent observers.
It forms part of broader efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive oversight within Ghana’s timber industry.
Mr Enock Danso Okyere, Project Manager of ECOCARE, speaking at the opening of the training workshop at Fumesua in the Ejisu municipality, said the engagement recognised the important role civil society could play in strengthening independent oversight of timber legality verification process.
He said by equipping CSO representatives with a sound understanding of TVD auditing protocols and procedures, the workshop sought to ensure that civil society participation was informed, constructive and guided by established audit standards.
Mr Okyere explained that the training objective was to build the capacity of selected CSO representatives to participate effectively and professionally as independent observers during TVD audits, including accurately documenting observers and preparing credible, evidence-based reports.
It will develop and build practical understanding of TVD audit protocols, procedures, standards and key requirements as well as roles, responsibilities, limitations and professional conduct expected of independent observers during audit exercises.
It will further help the CSOs to acquire practical skills in observing, recording and documenting audit findings, accurately, objectively and impartially, strengthen their capacity to prepare independent, evidence-based field observation reports to inform forest governance advocacy and accountability processes.
Additionally, it will help CSOs observations could contribute constructively to improving transparency, accountability and stakeholder confidence in timber legality assurance.
Dr Frank Ankomah, Legal Timber Verification Manager of the Forestry Commission, said the participation and observations of CSOs would help strengthen transparency and accountability in the timber auditing process of the TVD.
He commended ECOCARE for taking the initiative in building the capacities of the CSOs to be abreast with the timber validation and auditing process and said it would help assist in removing some of the discrepancies in the timber auditing process.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei