Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Ghana Formally Institutionalised

Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Ghana Formally Institutionalised

Ghana - 30 July, 2015

A culture of stakeholder consultation in decision making in the forestry sector is gaining space through the institutionalization of the multi-stakeholder dialogue (MSD). During the 13th MSD meeting of the EU Chainsaw Milling project which took place at the Forestry Commission Training Center in Kumasi on 16th July, 2015 the National Forest Forum- Ghana (NFF-G) accepted to merge with the MSD platform established by the EU Chainsaw milling project.

The MSD has been the main strategy used by the project. It is an interactive and learning platform that involves all types of stakeholders within the forestry sector, has proved to be an effective tool for decision making on the project amidst, diverse views, competing interests and expectations. Through the well-managed MSD, the project has bridged the differences between antagonizing actors (chainsaw operators and forest managers) within the domestic timber sector. Two tangible outputs from the platform discussions are a policy for supplying legal timber to the domestic market and a public procurement policy on wood and wood products. It was also through the platform that Artisanal milling was identified as the legal alternative to illegal chainsaw milling.

Since its establishment in September 2009, the MSD Steering Committee has been working to establish favourable conditions to sustain a multiple stakeholder approach to policy-making. This is because there is much to gain from streamlining and coordinating similar initiatives. Although there are many active multi-stakeholder processes with similar objectives as the MSD in the country, NFF-G was chosen because it is a neutral nationwide platform with good reputation and is recognized by the government.

The institutionalization of the platform was witnessed by over one hundred and ten (110) participants from about twenty (20) stakeholder groups across the country. Amongst them were Forestry Commission staff, chainsaw operators, wood workers and traders, academia and research institutions just to mention a few. The stakeholders were happy about the harmonization, with the belief that they can contribute to forestry reforms.