36 Ghanaians from the natural resources, wood science and forestry divisions will receive specialised training in wood science and technology, remote sensing/geomatics, or ecological studies in Canada as part of the Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 (BCDI 2030 project).
The BCDI program is sponsored by the Canadian government and managed by Global Affairs Canada.
The BCDI 2030 is a grant awarded by Global Affairs Canada to Professor Mathew Leitch of Lakehead University’s Faculty of Natural Resources Management for research he is conducting in Ghana on a project titled “Best Practices in Sustainable Natural Resources Management”.
The ten partnering institutions include the Forestry Commission (FC), University of Ghana, University of Energy and Natural Resources, University of Cape Coast, University of Development Studies, KNUST, and CSIR-Forestry Research Institute (CSIR-FORIG).
The rest are Samartex Timber and Plywood, Charcoal Chamber of Commerce and CSIR College of Science and Technology.
Professor Mathew Leitch of Lakehead University’s Faculty of Natural Resources Management, speaking at the second media engagement in Ghana with its partner institutions, stated that the project aims to develop expertise in natural resources management in Ghana.
According to him, 51 per cent of the scholarships will be awarded to women, aligning with national priorities and the needs of partner countries. He added that this grant builds on the long-standing history of Lakehead University’s Faculty of Natural Resources Management in Ghana.
Dr Leitch’s program, Best practices in sustainable natural resources management,’’ with a $570,000 CAD year 5- year fund, awards full scholarships to three (3) master’s students at Lakehead University. It also offers one month of visiting scholar opportunities to nine senior members from the partner institutions and supports twenty-three (23) early-to-mid –career officers through tailored certificate programs.
He is optimistic that the intervention will help Ghana in the long run to manage the country’s natural resources and preserve them for the generation yet unborn.
Prof. Leitch used the occasion to advise Ghanaians to preserve nature and desist from destroying it.
Visibility of the partnership
According to him, three 3 Ghanaian Master of Science in Forestry (MScF) students used the grant to enrol in Lakehead University’s MScF programs in September 2025.
In the meantime, seven early- to mid-career staff members from partner organisations participated in a one-month training program in wood science and forest products at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, funded by the BCDI Scholarship. This included senior-level engagement and the documentation of best practices for adoption in Ghana. Simultaneously, two senior faculty members undertook a one-month stay as visiting scholars.
Madam Valerie Fumey Nassah, Director of Operations, Plantation, Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, addressing the media, said the Forestry Commission has benefited greatly from the programme, and she believes the knowledge gained from it will help address the landscape mapping of the country.
Source: Dailyagric
