The ForestOkyeman project, a partnership between the United Nations in Ghana and the Okyeman Environment Foundation (OEF), has been awarded the 2026 Human Security Award in recognition of its contribution to sustainable development and environmental restoration.
The award was presented by the Co-Chairs of the United Nations Group of Friends of Human Security, acknowledging the project’s impact in promoting environmental sustainability and community resilience through efforts to reclaim degraded forest landscapes in Ghana.
Implemented between 2021 and 2025 across the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, the ForestOkyeman initiative adopted a multi-stakeholder and community-driven approach aimed at safeguarding natural resources and strengthening local governance systems. The project supported communities to revive existing resource management groups and establish landscape-level governance structures through the Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) model.
The initiative brought together a broad coalition of partners, including the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), civil society organizations, the Okyeman Environment Foundation, A Rocha Ghana, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, the Atiwa West District Assembly, government ministries and agencies, as well as traditional authorities.
Through capacity-building workshops and community engagement programmes, the partners equipped local residents with knowledge and practical tools to address interconnected environmental challenges, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and unsustainable natural resource use.
The project contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). While addressing environmental concerns as its primary entry point, the initiative also generated positive outcomes in health, education, and livelihoods.
A key component of the project was its ambitious afforestation programme. Working with community volunteers and local stakeholders, ForestOkyeman established tree nurseries and launched campaigns aimed at producing and planting one million seedlings to restore degraded landscapes and enhance biodiversity.
The project also complements Ghana’s broader efforts to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which has resulted in extensive environmental degradation across the country. Illegal mining activities have destroyed thousands of hectares of forest cover, polluted major water bodies, and increased turbidity levels, posing significant threats to ecosystems, public health, and local livelihoods.
The Human Security Award highlights ForestOkyeman’s role as a model for community-led environmental stewardship and demonstrates how collaborative partnerships can advance sustainable development while strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities.
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