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Analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of Forest Management Institutions: A Case of Wassa East and West Districts in Ghana

Author Affiliations

  • 1Civil and Public Law with References to Environmental and European Law, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany
  • 2Department of Environmental Planning, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 5, Issue (6), Pages 57-62, June,22 (2016)

Abstract

SWOT analysis was performed on four forest management institutions viz Forestry Commission, District Assemblies, Forest Services Division, Non-governmental Organisation based on primary and secondary data which was obtained through purposive sampling and governmental documents/archival records respectively. Funding and political interference were identified as major weaknesses affecting forest management institutions in the Wassa Amenfi West and East Districts. Ghana’s forestry regulatory framework can be said to be robust and extremely strong. This is exemplified by the existence of a National Forest Policy, a Social Responsibility Agreement, National Forest Plantation Development Programme as well as Ghana being a party to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement. There are windows of opportunities in reference to policy enforcement which could be turned into strengths.

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