Forestry Commission Lawyers Trained to Prosecute Forest and Wildlife Offences
The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department, in collaboration with the United States Forest Service and the Forestry Commission, has completed a four-day capacity-building workshop to equip Forestry Commission lawyers with skills to prosecute forest and wildlife offences more effectively.
The training, held in Accra, was designed to address critical gaps in the prosecution of environmental crimes and was facilitated by Principal State Attorney, Rev. Joshua Sackey and Chief State Attorney, Madam Stella Ohene-Appiah, from the Office of the Attorney General.
The training covered the Ghana Code for Prosecutors, the scope of authority under fiat, and the legal process from investigation to prosecution.
Rev. Joshua Sackey urged lawyers to work closely with police on evidence, disclosure and investigative strategy, and reminded them that cases outside the remit of E.I. 4 must be referred to the Attorney General or police.
Madam Ohene-Appiah also took participants through managing stakeholders in the criminal justice system, including judges, police, defence counsel and witnesses.
She emphasised professionalism, punctuality and thorough docket review, advising prosecutors to examine case files “cover to cover” to identify all possible charges.
Opening the workshop, Director of the Legal Department of the Forestry Commission, Mr Dennis Osei Hwere Esq., said the training forms part of the USFS’s 2026 collaborative framework.
He explained that the Commission engaged the USFS specifically to build the capacity of its legal team to lead prosecutions on forest and wildlife offences.
Mr Hwere thanked the Attorney General for facilitating the training and acknowledged the USFS for its financial and strategic support toward improving forest governance in Ghana.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chief State Attorney, Madam Stella Ohene-Appiah, urged participants to embrace an interactive, experience-driven approach to learning.
Crimes Prosecution
Dr Richard Gyimah, Executive Director of the Timber Industry Development Division, provided historical context, recalling that prior to 2012, forestry crimes were prosecuted solely by the police, a system plagued by delays.
Following a 2013 collaboration between the FC and the Attorney General’s Department, 28 selected FC staff were commissioned as public prosecutors under Executive Instrument 4 of 1976.
Dr Gyimah said the new training has become urgent due to the rise of “illegal mining syndrome,” which requires faster and more decisive prosecution.
He appealed to the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General to issue a nationwide circular to ensure FC lawyers receive recognition, mentorship and cooperation from police prosecutors and state offices.
He also pledged that the newly trained prosecutors will take part in future Attorney General refresher courses.
Representing the US Embassy, Regional Deputy Director for Environment, Science, Technology and Health, Justine King, stressed the global impact of illegal logging and wildlife trade.
She described them as the largest resource crimes by volume and value and warned they pose a direct threat to Ghana’s national security and economic stability.
“We require successful prosecutions that raise the cost of environmental crimes. Let us demonstrate that the rule of law extends from Ghana’s forests to its courts,” she said.
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