The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has recorded another significant achievement in competitive public speaking and intellectual engagement, emerging victorious in the maiden Forestry Commission Debate Competition held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, at the Forestry Commission Auditorium in Accra.
The debate formed part of Ghana’s commemoration of the International Day of Forests 2026, organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Forestry Commission under the global theme, “Forests and Economies.” The competition brought together two leading universities: UPSA and the University of Ghana, to debate the motion: “The economic value of forests should be measured solely in terms of timber and non-timber forest products.”
Representing UPSA were Mr. Richard Gamli Graham, a Level 400 Bachelor of Laws student and President of the UPSA Debate Club; Mr. Kelvin Kwami Ofosu, a Level 400 Information Technology student; and Miss Yomle Sika Padi-Narh, a Level 200 Bachelor of Laws student. The team argued against the motion, advancing a strong and nuanced case that the value of forests cannot be reduced solely to timber and non-timber forest products.
The strong showing of the UPSA Team earned the unanimous endorsement of the adjudicating panel, with UPSA scoring 81 per cent to defeat the University of Ghana Debate Club, which scored 78 per cent.
For their outstanding performance, the UPSA team received a prize package comprising GH¢20,000, a plaque, a Samsung tablet, certificates, a trophy and Forestry Commission-branded T-shirts.
The victory is particularly significant as the event was the maiden edition of the Forestry Commission Debate Competition, making UPSA the inaugural champions of the initiative.
Following their victory, the team paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, to present the trophy. The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the students on their impressive performance and encouraged them to regard the achievement as motivation to continue distinguishing themselves as pacesetters and worthy ambassadors of the University.
The competition also drew significance from the wider global observance it was designed to mark. The International Day of Forests is observed annually on 21 March and was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Countries are encouraged to mark the day through national and local activities, including educational and public awareness events.
The 2026 theme, “Forests and Economies,” highlights the essential contribution of forests to livelihoods, employment, trade, food systems and wider economic prosperity. According to the FAO, forests and trees contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy and support billions of people worldwide.
In Ghana, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission have over the years used the commemoration to intensify public education and awareness on forest protection and tree planting.
