Ghana’s forests remain a vital source of income, employment and environmental protection for millions of people, especially in rural communities. Yet, these landscapes continue to face pressure from farming expansion, illegal mining, logging and unsustainable land use.
In response, a new wave of forest restoration is emerging, led by entrepreneurs who are proving that conservation can also create jobs and support livelihoods.
One of them is Kwame Bonsu, founder of Sakam Savana, who is working to restore the Afram Headwaters Forest Reserve while supporting surrounding communities. For him, forest restoration is not only about protecting the environment, but also about improving lives.
“Of course, I want to get the forest back. But it’s also about improving the quality of life for rural communities, the people who depend the most on the forest,” he explains.
In 2021, Kwame received a plantation loan through Ghana’s Forest Investment Program, a nine-year initiative financed by the Climate Investments Funds and implemented by the World Bank. The support helped him expand his business, employ more than 180 people and strengthen food security in nearby communities.
Kwame also adopted agroforestry practices by combining tree planting with food crop production. He planted more than 20,000 fruit trees, including mango, alongside teak trees, a model that improved crop yields and profitability.
Joann Ofori, founder of Lordamn Farms Ltd., also benefited from the loan scheme. She used the funding to expand her teak plantation from 70 hectares to 140 hectares, purchase seedlings and hire more workers. While waiting for the teak trees to mature, she planted crops such as eggplant, maize and okra to generate short-term income.
“You can breathe better and everywhere you look it’s lush and green. I’m at peace with nature and I encourage more women to go into this business,” she said.
Ghana’s Forest Investment Program, which ran from 2015 to 2024, supported improved forest management, sustainable cocoa farming and community-based landscape protection. About 106,000 people benefited from the project, while more than 80,000 hectares of land came under improved management.
The success of entrepreneurs like Kwame and Joann shows how access to finance, local innovation and community participation can help Ghana build a stronger forest economy while protecting the environment for future generations.