The World Bank has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) in the Atewa Hotspot Intervention Area (HIA), citing positive outcomes in forest conservation, community development and climate-smart agriculture.
Mr. Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Planet at the World Bank Group, gave the commendation during a field visit to project communities in the Eastern Region on Monday.
The delegation toured Pano, Kwasi Komfo, Potroase and Amanfrom within the Atewa landscape, an area facing increasing pressure from illegal small-scale mining activities, to assess the impact of interventions under the programme.
“We are modestly satisfied with the progress being made, but of course, we can always improve,” Mr. Chen said.
The GCFRP is a collaborative initiative between the Forestry Commission and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) aimed at reducing deforestation while promoting sustainable cocoa production and climate-resilient farming practices.
Funded through the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), the programme began in 2019 and is expected to run until 2027. It covers 5.9 million hectares of Ghana’s High Forest Zone and supports more than 140,000 cocoa farmers across six Hotspot Intervention Areas, including Atewa.
Mr. Chen noted that carbon financing generated through the programme was helping communities address critical development needs such as access to potable water, agricultural inputs and livelihood support, while encouraging environmental conservation.
According to him, the Atewa Hotspot Intervention Area received a carbon payment of US$4.8 million in June 2023 for its 2019 monitoring period and an additional US$16.9 million in June 2024 for emissions reductions achieved during the 2020–2021 monitoring period.
The payments, he said, reflected Ghana’s continued progress in reducing carbon emissions and protecting forest resources.
“We want to accelerate the payments, but that requires everybody to work together. The communities are delivering the outcomes with support and supervision from the Forestry Commission,” he said.
Mr. Chen praised the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by community members and acknowledged the role of traditional authorities in promoting environmental sustainability.
He specifically commended the support of Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyehene, whom he described as a strong advocate for environmental protection and sustainable development.
He also lauded the Forestry Commission and its partners for advancing Ghana’s green economy agenda and strengthening climate action efforts.
Mr. Chen described carbon finance as an important mechanism for rewarding farmers and communities for reducing emissions and preserving forest ecosystems.
He indicated that the World Bank would explore opportunities to scale up support for the programme, given Atewa’s significance as a biodiversity hotspot and a high-value carbon landscape requiring long-term investment.
“We have seen that Ghana has already established itself as a leader, not only in Africa but globally, in developing carbon markets,” he said.
Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, said approximately 23 percent of programme funds had been allocated to the Commission to support logistics, monitoring and capacity-building activities.
He explained that the resources had enabled the Commission to procure vehicles and motorbikes and strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders involved in forest protection and conservation efforts.
Dr. Brown noted that poverty remained a major driver of environmental degradation and expressed optimism that the programme’s livelihood interventions would help address socio-economic challenges in beneficiary communities.
Among the programme’s achievements are the distribution of 540 school desks to 54 schools in the Atewa enclave, the construction of mechanised boreholes, the provision of agricultural inputs and the delivery of training programmes for farmers and community members.
The interventions, he said, were contributing to both environmental sustainability and improved living standards in the project communities.
