The Kotaa community and the Modified Taungya System (MTS) groups in the Tain II Forest Reserve are celebrating the signing of a Social Responsibility Agreement (SRA) with the forestry company, Form Ghana, and the receipt of payment for their teak trees.

The payment and SRA signing ceremony was attended by the Queen Mother of Kotaa, Nana Yaa Oforiwaa Amanfo; the community’s Assemblyman; members of the Forest Services Division (FSD); MTS groups; members of the Kotaa community; and officers from Form Ghana.

The Head of Kotaa’s MTS, Richard Ofori, praised Form Ghana for its transparent approach to ensuring that the groups and the Kotaa Community received fair and accurate compensation for their teak trees.

Form Ghana is a private forestry company appointed by the Forestry Commission to upgrade, reforest and manage the Tain II Reserve. When Form Ghana followed due process and expressed interest in trees that are older than 18 years, the Forestry Commission issued Form Ghana a permit to harvest eligible trees.

To determine the standing value, representatives from Form Ghana, the FSD, and the Kotaa MTS groups counted the trees and measured their diameter and height to identify individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH)≥ 20cm. All parties unanimously agreed on the accuracy of the data and signed a confirmation.

The fringe communities benefit from the roads Form Ghana has built and maintains in the reserve. These make it easy for the MTS groups to reach their crops, and the roads also serve as firebreaks. Ofori and the community leaders are thankful for Form Ghana’s firefighting training, equipment and early warning systems.

“Form Ghana’s insistence on accuracy has led to higher SRA payments to the Kotaa Community”, says Ofori. Willem Fourie, the CEO of Form Ghana, attributes the system’s success to the company’s transparency and respect for community members. He thanked the Queen Mother of Kotaa, the village community, MTS groups, the FSD, and other stakeholders for making the SRA payment possible.